Please join us in congratulating Cristiana Toscano, Linked technical facilitator and Latin American-Caribbean (LAC) focal point, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and infectious disease doctor. Cristiana was recently honored by the federal government of Brazil with the Oswaldo Cruz Medal of Merit, along with 22 other individuals and 10 institutions, that have played a significant role in contributing to the health of the population and tackling the drop in vaccination coverage in the country.
“I’m very happy and honored by the recognition. I’ve been working in the field of immunization and public health for more than 20 years, and in this time there have been countless challenges, but also achievements and advances that have actually resulted in better health conditions for the Brazilian population. To have contributed and participated in this fills me with pride and purpose,” says Toscano.
Cristiana served an active role in the fight against the 2009 influenza pandemic and the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting managers at municipal, state, and national level as a member of UFG’s Covid-19 Crisis Committee, the Emergency Operations Committees (COE) of the Municipality of Goiânia and the State of Goiás, as well as the Technical Advisory Chambers on Immunization and Public Health Emergencies at national level.
Cristiana is also a permanent member of the Committee of Experts on Vaccines and Immunizations (Sage) of the World Health Organization (WHO), and of the Committee of Experts on Vaccines of the Region of the Americas (TAG).
Cristiana supports Linked’s technical workstream on persistent immunisation backsliding and restoring coverage and serves as the focal point for countries and partners in the LAC region. Congratulations to her on this well-deserved award!