The World Health Organization has honoured Egyptian physician Heba El Sewedy, founder and chair of the Ahl Masr Foundation and Burn Hospital, with the Director-General’s Award in recognition of her pioneering contributions to burn care. The award was presented during the opening of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The ceremony, attended by international officials and Egyptian Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, underscored the growing role of Egypt’s specialised healthcare institutions in advancing burn treatment. According to WHO, Ahl Masr Hospital has helped raise survival rates among critical burn cases from 20% to 84%, while reducing permanent disability linked to burn injuries to around 10%.
The hospital, inaugurated in 2024, is the first and largest free specialised burn treatment facility in Africa and the Middle East, with a capacity of 60 beds. It is also the first in Egypt to perform natural skin graft procedures for burn patients and is currently collaborating with the Health Ministry on a telemedicine model to expand burn care across Egypt’s governorates.
El Sewedy said the award represents international recognition of the institution’s mission to provide specialised and integrated care for burn victims, adding that the organisation will continue to expand its medical and humanitarian partnerships.
The recognition comes as Ahl Masr works with WHO, Egypt’s Health Ministry and the Egyptian Health Council to develop a national strategy for burn treatment, prevention and rehabilitation over the next decade. The presidency described the initiative as the first of its kind globally at the national level, aimed at standardising burn care and improving service quality.
El Sewedy has previously received several international and regional honours, including the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice and recognition from the Arab League for her humanitarian work.
