Cannes 2015: Leo Burnett's Mathana's entry in race for Young Lions Health Award

Lions Health, the festival and awards for creative excellence in healthcare, has announced the shortlist for the Young Lions Health Award 2015. Among 18 shortlists is 'Postpone the expiry date' by Leo Burnett South Asia's Juneston Mathana, from the agency's SriLanka office. 

 

Entrants were asked to 'devise a marketing campaign on integrated health solutions for developing countries'. The competition makes its debut this year.

 

Louise Benson, festival director, Lions Health, said, "It was fantastic to see such a spectrum of countries on the shortlist because it proves that the issue the Young Lions Health Award tackles is a worldwide problem, the enormity of which is understood across the globe.”

 

Dr. Mickey Chopra, jury member and head of UNICEF’s global health programmes, said, “This competition comes at precisely the right time, since in under three months the United Nations will be setting new global goals for health. As we have seen with the millennium development goals, these new goals will need targeted communication in order to have a chance at success, so the engagement and outstanding talent shown by these young people is a very hopeful sign.”

 

Keith Weed, chief marketing and communications officer, Unilever, and one of this year’s judges for the competition, said, “I have been personally inspired by the final shortlist of entries and extend my congratulations to the winner of this year’s Young Lions Health Award. Innovative communications not only play a critical role in building awareness of global health and hygiene challenges, but they are instrumental in driving transformational change for those plagued by inequities of current health systems. By leveraging the combined skills of the public and private sectors, we can help uplift people out of poverty and create a sustainable future for children and their families.”

 

The winners of the Young Lions Health Award will be announced and presented at the Lions Health awards ceremony in Cannes on Friday, 19 June. 

 

More on the creative brief and the award can be found online here.

 

Lions Health takes place from 19-20 June.