Washington DC, Jan 12: The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has announced its “First in Asia'' award to Ram Charitra Sah of Nepal. Sah heads an NGO named the Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) Nepal.  

Nepal is the first country in all of Asia to achieve mercury-free dentistry, according to the Washington-based World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry which helps run projects in 50 countries. Sah has been awarded for his role in ‘making it happen’.

“The quite challenging multi-year campaign to rid Nepal of toxic mercury was engineered by Ram Sah,” said Charlie Brown, president of the World Alliance. “Deeply appreciative of Mr. Ram, we give this award to recognize his years of service for the people and environment of Nepal and the Himalayas.”

“Ram Sah is recognized as one of the outstanding NGO leaders in Asia – and indeed the world,” said Director Siddika Sultana, of the Asian Center for Environmental Health in Dhaka. “We are proud that our South Asian neighbor Nepal has gone to mercury-free dentistry, and we salute my friend Ram for leading the way.”

Sah graduated in Environmental Science with distinction from Bangalore University; Bangalore under the Government of India Silver Jubilee Scholarship scheme provided to the Government of Nepal on the occasion of the 25th Year of accession to the throne of Late King Birendra Bikram Shahdev of Nepal. He has over 20 years of working experience in the field of environment conservation and the protection of public health. 

“Ram’s tireless research-based campaign efforts have established chemical safety issues in Nepal including bringing positive momentum about mercury-free dentistry and mercury-free health care services among most stringent and rigid dental professional and high-level policymakers through his strategic and visionary participatory approaches of engaging the Nepal Dental Association (NDA), high-level policymakers including leaders at ministries of health and environment of Nepal,” said a press statement issued by the World Alliance. 

CEPHED is an environmental NGO established in the year 2004, by a group of activists and experts from the medical, environmental, and public health sectors with a goal to serve Nepali people and communities in the field of public health and environment.

 
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