Padova, Italy – February 20, 2026 – In observance of the World Day of Social Justice, Penta Foundation ETS is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Brighter Future Award. This prestigious biennial award recognises visionary leaders dedicated to dismantling health inequities in maternal and child infectious diseases, specifically targeting HIV, tuberculosis (TB), vaccine access and the fortification of fragile health systems.
The Penta Brighter Future Award is a peer-nominated distinction that celebrates exceptional leadership across six world regions. To ensure the highest level of merit and global representation, winners are selected through a rigorous two-tiered jury process comprising international experts from diverse geographic regions and infectious disease specialisations.
The 2026 Brighter Future Awardees are:
- Namakau Mundia (Zambia): Recognised for her transformative work in HIV and sexual/reproductive health for adolescent girls and young women.
- Ayat Al-Saqqa (Gaza, Palestine): Honoured for her heroic efforts in restoring reproductive health services and laboratory diagnostics amidst humanitarian crises.
- Cecilia Bernardoni (Venezuela): Commended for safeguarding children living with HIV by ensuring the continuity of antiretroviral therapy in resource-constrained environments.
- África Holguín (Spain): Awarded for her pioneering work in strengthening paediatric HIV detection and treatment across Europe, Latin America and Africa.
- Vincent Guilamo-Ramos (United States): Acknowledged for leading family-based HIV prevention strategies addressing the U.S. Latino health crisis.
- Pauline Masta (Papua New Guinea): Recognised for the lifesaving integration of maternal TB screening into frontline maternity services.
- Helen Skirrow (United Kingdom, Young Researcher category): Honoured for her co-produced research with deprived ethnic minority communities in London to address inequalities in maternal and childhood vaccination.
“This second cohort of awardees reflects a deliberate shift toward locally grounded, culturally relevant public health solutions,” said Carlo Giaquinto, President of Penta. “These leaders are not just responding to statistics; they are responding to the real, lived needs of their communities.”
The awardees will be formally honoured during a dedicated ceremony at the upcoming Penta ID Network Meeting (PIM) held in Palermo, Italy.
For more information on the winners and their impact, please visit: https://penta-id.org/bfa/
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About Penta:
Penta is an international independent scientific network dedicated to advancing child health research. Driven by a passion for improving the lives of children and their families, Penta supports research and training to prevent and treat infectious diseases in children and pregnant women worldwide.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Francesca Mazzetto, Penta Chief People, Communications and Culture Officer
francesca.mazzetto@pentafoundation.org, +39 348 6151202