Dr Faisal Ahmed Alnoor Elhaj, Sudan Country Director of the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA), has received the 2026 Ben Qurrah International Award from the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) in recognition of his humanitarian work in Sudan.
He received the award on 5 September 2026 at the 48th NAAMA National Medical Covention in Houston, Texas.
In addition to serving as SAPA’s Sudan Country Director, Alnoor also serves as the Acting Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan and leads health initiatives in emergency settings.
“As Acting Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan, Dr. Elhaj works on the frontlines of global public health. A dedicated PharmD professional, he leads essential healthcare initiatives, strengthening maternal, child, and adolescent health delivery across critical humanitarian and emergency settings. From coordinating international healthcare collaborations to advancing health equity in vulnerable communities, Dr. Elhaj’s selfless service exemplifies the highest ideals of medicine and global health diplomacy,” NAAMA stated.
“With great pride, the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) extends its warmest congratulations to its Sudan Country Director, Dr Faisal Ahmed Al Nour, on being selected to receive the 2026 Ben Qurrah International Award, presented by the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) during its annual conference in Houston, the US. The prestigious international honour is a source of immense pride for the entire SAPA family and a fitting recognition of Dr Faisal’s tireless efforts and distinguished record of service, particularly his commitment to serving people and alleviating the suffering of communities in the most challenging circumstances. Congratulations, Dr Faisal. A well-deserved honour and a source of pride for us all,” SAPA stated on social media.
SAPA is a nonprofit humanitarian organisation comprising Sudanese healthcare professionals in the United States and worldwide. It works to deliver emergency and essential humanitarian assistance in Sudan, particularly healthcare services, to communities affected by the ongoing war in Sudan.
The Ben Qurrah International Award honours physicians and scientists who show great leadership, clinical excellence, and dedication to public health or vulnerable communities. The Ben Qurrah Award is the highest honour presented by NAAMA to recognise exceptional and distinguished achievements in medicine, science and humanitarian service to communities. It was established in 1998, after an initiative by the then chapter president Dr Imtihan Jawdat, was approved by the board of directors. Dr Jawdat secured the first USD50,000 for the award.
The award is named after prominent Arab scientist, physician and scholar Thabit Ibn Qurrah Marwan Al Harrani (826–901 CE), one of the leading figures of the Abbasid era in translation, medicine, mathematics and astronomy. From Harran, Mesopotamia, he was born in 826, flourished in Baghdad, and died in 901. He received mathematical and medical training in Baghdad and was the personal physician of the Abbasid Caliph (King) al-M’utadid.
