Ramon Magsaysay awardees 2024: Studio Ghibli Miyazaki Hayao, Rural Doctors Movement, and more

Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem in Sumatra, home to highly endangered species, faces severe threats from deforestation, infrastructure, and weak law enforcement despite its UNESCO World Heritage status and national protection. The situation worsened in 2013 when the Aceh government abolished the Leuser Ecosystem Management Authority, which had been fighting to protect it.

Instead of giving up, some BPKEL ex-employees got together to form a new organisation called the Forest Nature and Environment of Aceh Foundation or Yayasan Hutan Alam dan Lingkungan Aceh (HAkA), dedicated to protecting, preserving, and restoring the Leuser Ecosystem. Leading HAkA from the beginning was a young woman named Farwiza Farhan, who was awarded the foundation’s Emergent Leadership award for “her profound understanding of the vital connection between nature and humanity, her commitment to social justice and responsible citizenship through her work with forest communities, and her promotion of greater awareness of the need to protect the beating heart and lungs of her country’s and Asia’s rich but endangered natural resources.”

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Thailand’s universal health coverage, implemented in 2002 after decades of advocacy by visionary Thai physicians, now provides largely free medical care to citizens, especially benefiting the rural poor. The Rural Doctors Movement (RDM), consisting of the Rural Doctor Society (RDS) and the Rural Doctor Foundation (RDF), emerged as a unified force of Thai doctors advocating for healthcare in rural areas; the RDS operates informally, while the RDF is a formal NGO of doctors in public hospitals.

At the same time, in the early 1970s, a pro-democracy movement swept Thailand, advocating for greater freedom and socio-economic justice. Many idealistic young doctors joined this movement, seeing it as an opportunity to redress the inequities they saw in Thai society. They organised medical teams for the student protesters, and in 1974, students were sent to the countryside to study poverty and inadequate healthcare.

Recognised for their historic and continuing contribution to people’s health, the RDM continue to advocate for policy reforms, such as progressive healthcare programs. The RDF also networks with other NGOs, such as those for nurses and pharmacists, the World Health Organisation, and other international agencies.

Related: This doctor is revolutionising women’s health by developing an integrated digital and physical healthcare system

The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975, left deep trauma with over three million deaths, mostly civilians. Its lethal legacy endures as the toxic chemical TCDD from Agent Orange, used extensively by American forces, continues to cause severe health issues across four generations, affecting millions of Vietnamese.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, who became a doctor during the Vietnam War, was deeply affected by witnessing severe birth defects in newborns, initially without understanding the cause. This led her to dedicate her life to uncovering the truth about Agent Orange, seeking justice for its victims, and aiding the afflicted through her research and work with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA).

Recognised for her spirit of public service and the message of hope she continues to spread among her people, Phuong was determined to find out the truth about Agent Orange, to seek justice for its victims, and to assist the afflicted in all ways possible.

Prompted by a paper on the use of herbicides in Vietnam, Phuong and her associates established that people in areas sprayed with Agent Orange suffered from birth defects three times more than in other places. She published her research and joined the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA). With over 4,000 members, VAVA seeks accountability for the damage done by Agent Orange and brings relief to its victims.

Standing on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan has been described as the last Shangri-la. Its seclusion and natural beauty make it one of the world’s most desirable places for tourists. But Bhutan is a low-income country facing many problems and challenges confronting other developing countries: unemployment, inadequate social services, and the erosion of traditional values.

Despite being famous for Gross National Happiness, a holistic development philosophy that gained traction in some countries, Bhutan continues to face many challenges. About 12 per cent of its population live below the poverty line, and many youths seek greener pastures abroad. With rapid change due to modernisation and globalisation, Bhutan has been experiencing severe tensions.

This reality has been foremost in the mind of Karma Phuntsho, a Bhutanese thought leader who, as a former Buddhist monk, has a profound understanding of Bhutanese tradition. But Phuntsho—born in Bhutan in 1968—is also an Oxford-educated scholar who feels the need to bring Bhutan into the 21st century in a mindful and culturally sensitive way. His academic works on Buddhism and Bhutan’s history and culture focus on reappropriating Bhutanese traditional knowledge and making it relevant to the present and future.

In 1999, Phuntsho founded the Loden Foundation, an educational charity “committed to promoting education, nurturing social entrepreneurship, and documenting Bhutan’s cultural heritage and traditions.” The Loden Foundation’s works mirror Phuntsho’s own aspirations and interests as a scholar and changemaker. Loden literally means “possessing intelligence,” but it is grounded in the Buddhist belief that knowledge has no owner and that empowerment through education is the greatest gift.

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