Wiqaa Thuleim awareness campaign wins global Stevie Award

The Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah has achieved a new international milestone, with its 'Wiqaa Thuleim' awareness campaign winning the 2026 Stevie Award in the category of Innovative Achievement in Community Impact. The award recognizes the campaign's significant health and awareness impact, which has extended beyond the local level to international forums.

The 'Wiqaa Thuleim' campaign was inspired by the story of the historic Thuleim Palace, which symbolizes Saudi Arabia's efforts to combat diseases and epidemics since the era of King Abdulaziz. The campaign aimed to correct misconceptions about health and to strengthen public trust in healthcare services by connecting the past, present, and future.

The campaign featured a range of initiatives and activities, including interactive exhibitions both in-person and virtual, digital awareness drives, educational publications, and partnerships with public and private entities. Running throughout 2024, the campaign reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries.

Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaim, Chairman of the Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah, expressed his pride in this international achievement, stating that winning the Stevie Award is the result of sustained institutional work and integrated efforts to establish the association as a key contributor to Saudi Arabia's health and volunteer sectors.

Al-Sulaim noted that this global recognition reflects the association's success in launching initiatives that address community needs and bring Unaizah's impact to the international stage.

Ghadhi bint Abdullah Al-Khalaf, Head of Health Promotion at the association, explained that the award is the culmination of a scientific approach adopted by the campaign since its inception, relying on precise tools to measure knowledge and behavioral impact.

She noted that 'Wiqaa Thuleim' succeeded in transforming health awareness from mere information into lived experiences, linking Saudi Arabia's health heritage with modern healthcare developments. This has helped correct misconceptions among wide segments of society, particularly in areas such as vaccinations, nutrition, and prevention of infectious diseases.

Al-Khalaf emphasized that this achievement motivates the association's team to continue developing new awareness initiatives that serve public health and promote health literacy.

The Stevie Award is a prestigious international honor recognizing outstanding achievements in innovation, organizational performance, and community impact, with annual competition among organizations from around the world.

This accomplishment reaffirms the Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah's commitment to advancing its awareness programs and initiatives, raising health awareness, and strengthening its presence in health education both locally and internationally.