'Asian Nobel Prize' honors Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong

Scientist, Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong received the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award in Manila, Philippines last night, November 16, for her contributions to research to find out the truth about the devastation caused by Agent Orange/dioxin to humans .

 Ms. Cecilia L. Lazaro - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and Mr. Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr. presented the award to Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong. (Photo: Tran Tien Dung).

The Ramon Magsaysay Prize, dubbed the 'Asian Nobel', was awarded to five people, including Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, who made important contributions to discovering the harmful effects of dioxin on human health, especially reproductive health. Since then, she has fought vigorously for justice for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

Ms. Cecilia L. Lazaro - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and Mr. Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr. - founder of the award, son of the 7th former President of the Republic of the Philippines Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay - presented the Ramon Magsaysay Award to the 5 winners of this year's award.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation's Board of Trustees "recognized her spirit of public service and the message of hope she continues to spread among her people" and that 'her work is a solemn warning to the world to avoid war at all costs, as its tragic consequences may last far into the future'.

In particular, the money from this award, about 50,000 USD, will be transferred by Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to help victims affected by Agent Orange/dioxin.

Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, 80 years old this year, is the former Director of Tu Du Hospital, a famous obstetrician. Not only is she involved in scientific research on the negative effects of Agent Orange/dioxin, she is also a pioneer in the field of in vitro fertilization in Vietnam, bringing joy to thousands of families.

She is also the one who "gave birth " to the team of Village Midwives - an extension of the grassroots health care system - to take care of the health of pregnant women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (3rd from right) with the award winners. (Photo: Tran Tien Dung).

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation was established in 1957 to honor Ramon Magsaysay, the 7th President of the Republic of the Philippines, who died in a plane crash. He was a beloved president for his passion for justice, especially for the poor.

This year's Ramon Magsaysay Award also honored other outstanding individuals and groups: Karma Phuntsho, a former Bhutanese monk whose contributions to academics and high-quality education have helped solve unemployment; Farwiza Farhan, an Indonesian who has worked to protect endangered species on the island of Sumatra; Japanese animator Miyazaki Hayao, whose children's cartoons have become the highest-grossing films in Japan; and a group of Thai doctors who were awarded for their efforts to ensure affordable health care for the rural poor.