PAHO Award 2025: In 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) gave a major honor to a doctor from Peru. Dr. July Esther Caballero Peralta, a well-known psychiatrist, received the PAHO Award for Health Services Management and Leadership.
This award celebrates her years of dedication to expanding mental health care in Peru and making it more accessible to people in vulnerable situations.
Who Is Dr. Caballero?
Dr. Caballero has spent more than 20 years working in the field of mental health. She has advanced degrees in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, along with a Master of Science.
Since 2023, she has served as the Head of the Mental Health Directorate at Peru’s Ministry of Health. Before this leadership role, she was part of the ministry’s technical team starting in 2018.
Her long career shows her dedication not just to treating patients but also to creating policies and programs that benefit the wider community.
Why She Received The Award
The award highlights her leadership in three main areas:
- Expanding access to mental health services across Peru.
- Promoting laws and policies that protect mental health as a human right.
- Ensuring care for vulnerable groups, including children, adolescents, and people with severe disorders.
Her leadership helped Peru put mental health at the center of its national health agenda, something that many countries in the region are still working toward.
Key Achievements
Dr. Caballero has been deeply involved in the Mental Health Law of Peru, which changed the way the country provides care.
Thanks to her work, Peru has built hundreds of community-based centers and new programs to reach those in need.
Here’s a look at her major contributions:
| Initiative | Impact |
|---|---|
| Community Mental Health Centers | Over 290 centers established across the country |
| Mobile Mental Health Teams | Support for homeless people with severe mental disorders |
| Correctional Facility Programs | Expanded services for prisoners needing mental health support |
| Child & Adolescent Care | Programs for young victims of abuse and trauma |
These achievements show her focus on creating inclusive, community-based care rather than limiting services to hospitals.
Work In Research And Teaching
Apart from her leadership role, Dr. Caballero is also a teacher and researcher. She has written and guided projects on several important topics:
- Depression and psychological violence
- Rehabilitation of people with severe disorders
- The impact of COVID-19 on mental health
Her research has helped the medical community understand challenges that affect thousands of people.
The Award Ceremony
The award was presented at PAHO’s 62nd Directing Council in Washington, D.C., with top health leaders from the Americas in attendance. Jerome Walcott, the Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados, handed her the award.
In her speech, Dr. Caballero said the recognition was not only for her but also for the communities, civil society, academics, and local governments who worked with her.
She added that mental health is not a side issue—it is a fundamental human right.
Importance Of The Award
The PAHO Award for Health Services Management and Leadership has existed since 1969. It is given to people, projects, or governments in the Americas that make real improvements in health care access and health system management.
By receiving this award, Dr. Caballero’s work shows that mental health deserves the same importance as physical health. Her leadership sets an example for other countries in the region to follow.
The recognition of Dr. July Esther Caballero Peralta by PAHO is a proud moment for Peru and the Americas.
Her efforts in expanding mental health services, building community-based programs, and guiding national policy show the power of strong leadership.
This award reminds us that mental health is not optional—it is an essential part of human dignity and public health.
