Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, announced that Professor Serigne Magueye Gueye of Senegal will receive the individual award, while the Fondation Bonne Action Umugiraneza of Burundi will be honored with the institutional prize for their significant contributions to reproductive health and addressing population growth-related challenges.
Professor Gueye has treated women suffering from obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that causes incontinence and social rejection. He has also trained surgeons from over 45 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to expand access to specialized care in the region.
Speaking to UN News, Professor Gueye noted that preventing new cases of obstetric fistula remains the main challenge and emphasized the importance of stronger health systems and universal access to emergency obstetric care, including timely caesarean sections, as essential for eliminating fistula by 2030.
He highlighted that treatment goes beyond surgery, with community support being vital for identifying women affected by stigma, aiding in their treatment, and helping their social and economic reintegration.
Demonstrating his commitment, Gueye converted his home into the Aristide Mensah Health Center in Yeumbeul, near Dakar, to improve healthcare access for underserved communities while advocating for greater awareness of obstetric fistula across West Africa.
Upon receiving the award, Gueye described it as recognition of collective efforts rather than personal achievement and encouraged young health professionals to develop skills with humility and resilience, especially to serve remote populations where healthcare is limited.