The World Health Organization (WHO) awarded Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion at the 75th World Health Assembly on May 27. 

Wu was recognized primarily for his pioneering achievements in HIV/AIDS prevention, including setting up outreach programs among sex workers and China's first needle-exchange program, and the first large-scale opioid replacement treatment.

Wu's measure has led to a significant decrease in HIV infection among drug users – from half to 1 percent, according to the WHO. 

"Health promotion among key populations needs to be continued," Wu said upon accepting the award. 

The Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion is awarded to individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to health promotion. It was established in South Africa in 2019 and presented annually since 2020.

Wu has also made contribution to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic since January 2020. Wu and his team have been tasked with providing scientific reference for policy makers and popularizing knowledge about the disease to the general public.

He participated in the press conferences jointly held by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council and the Beijing Municipal Government, giving timely and effective response from a professional perspective on epidemic prevention and control. According to the video of these press conferences, Wu was found to have gone from a black to a grey hair.

Wu mentioned the prevention and control of the COVID-19 was of great responsibility.

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(Liu Tianwen contributed to the story.)