1975 batch retired IAS officer of Punjab cadre, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, has been felicitated with Bhutan’s top honour, the National Order of Merit Gold Medal. She has been honored with this prestigious award for her distinguished services to her country.
Dr. Singh is serving as South-East Asia Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO). She became the first woman to assume the office of WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia on 1 February, 2014.
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk honoured Ms. Singh at Bhutan’s 116th National Day celebration.
On this occasion, giving the prestigious honour to Dr. Singh, King Jigme said, “Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the first woman regional director of WHO South-East Asia Region, played a pivotal role in supporting transformative healthcare leadership in Bhutan from 2014 to 2024. Her tenure witnessed remarkable strides, including Bhutan becoming one of the first countries to eliminate measles and rubella ahead of schedule. She made significant contributions to help Bhutan excel in Covid-19 vaccination.”
He also added that “Dr. Singh’s impactful strategies extended across communicable diseases, reproductive health, health systems, and social determinants, and had a lasting positive impact on Bhutan’s public health services.”
In a video message after the award ceremony, Dr. Singh thanked King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk for the award. She said, “As the regional director for WHO South-East Asia for the last decade, it has been my vision to address priority health issues through eight flagship programmes, and promote health and well-being for everyone, everywhere.”
She also said that Bhutan’s efforts and achievements in the last decade have been exceptional, eliminating polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus, eliminating measles and rubella, taking the lead in WHO South-East Asia Region for addressing mental health and making efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by expanding HPV vaccination and screening. The country is making exceptional efforts to address other non-communicable diseases.
“With the ongoing focused interventions, I am confident of and also wish Bhutan many more laurels in public health in the coming years,” she added.
