Ghana’s “Operation STORM” named best health promotion campaign
Operation STORM, a project by FIP Member Organisation the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) designed to disrupt the escalating crisis of substance and opioid abuse among teenagers, was awarded the Health Promotion Campaign Award today at the opening ceremony of the 84th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in Montreal, Canada.
Substance and opioid misuse have emerged as a major public health concern in many countries, with much of its impact falling on young people through respiratory depression, poor academic performance, and long-term social and economic instability, as well as wider effects on families, schools and health systems.
Focusing on prevention and early intervention, the campaign has, over the past two years, visited more than 17 high schools across the country with structured educational interventions, run large-scale seminars and interactive sessions on the health, psychological and social consequences of misuse, provided one to one mentoring for students identified as vulnerable, facilitated professional referral pathways for those needing psychological, addiction or medical support, and delivered four dedicated televised episodes across five national television stations.
Throughout, pharmacists across the country served as educators, mentors, counsellors and public health advocates, expanding the scope of pharmaceutical practice into preventive public health.
Joseph A. Oddis Award for Exceptional Service to FIP presented to Lars-Åke Söderlund
Mr Lars-Åke Söderlund from Sweden was presented with the FIP Joseph A. Oddis Award for Exceptional Service to FIP, recognising the unwavering commitment he has shown the federation since becoming a member in 1984.
Mr Söderlund has served as vice president of FIP, president of the Community Pharmacy Section, and member of the Board of Pharmacy Practice, playing a central leadership role in initiatives that strengthen FIP’s unity, visibility and influence. As co-chair of the FIP Congress Programme Committee, he has helped keep the FIP world congress intellectually rich and globally inclusive, and as co-chair of the FIP Technology Advisory Group, he has expanded the federation’s engagement with emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and digital transformation
Sixteen other pharmacy professionals recognised for excellence
The FIP 2026 award ceremony, held at the opening of the 84th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Montreal, Canada, saw 16 other pharmacy professionals from nine countries receive global awards as follows:
Early Career in Pharmaceutical Sciences Recognition Award
The purpose of the award is to recognise an outstanding early career individual who has made important contributions to their field of pharmaceutical sciences at a national level, and who is emerging internationally.
- Dr Zaid Almaayah (Qatar)
Exceptional Pharmaceutical Education Award
The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding educator (senior career) who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the diverse field of pharmacy education, and contributions which have had impacts on policy, practice and research related to education at an international level.
- Prof. Parisa Aslani (Australia)
Olivier Bugnon Award
The purpose of this award is to recognise an outstanding pharmacist, who has made significant contributions to pharmacy within their field of practice at an international level. Prof. Olivier Bugnon was involved in variety of FIP working groups and committees, bringing his expertise and sharing the Swiss experience internationally, primarily in the field of pharmacy practice (community pharmacy) and education.
- Dr Amanda Cavness (USA)
FIP Fellowships
FIP Fellowship recognises individual members of FIP who have exhibited strong leadership internationally, distinguished themselves in the practice of pharmacy, education and/or pharmaceutical sciences, contributed to the advancement of practice, education and/or pharmaceutical sciences, and who have served FIP. FIP Fellows may use the designation “FFIP.”
- Prof. Abeer Al Ghananeem (UAE)
- Dr Wael Ali (Egypt)
- Ms Leticia Caligaris (Uruguay)
- Dr Matthew Cherian (USA)
- Prof. Paul J. Gallagher (Ireland)
- Prof. Linda Garrelts MacLean (USA)
- Mr John Jackson (Australia)
- Mr Carlos Lucava (Uruguay)
- Mr Igor Linhares de Castro (Brazil)
- Prof. Silvana Nair Leite (Brazil)
- Dr Veronika Seda (Australia)
- Prof. Tracey Thornley (UK)
- Prof. Michael Ward (Australia)
