Rajpal Singh Yadav

Rajpal Singh Yadav (born 1958) is an Indian scientist in the field of vector ecology and management. He joined the World Health Organization in 2009. He retired in 2023, as a Scientist at the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Geneva, Switzerland. He was a Co-Chair of the WHO Joint Action Group for the implementation of the Global Vector Control Response, (WHO HQ/NTD, Geneva). He was also Head of the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) for the evaluation of vector control products (Feb 2013 – Oct 2017). During this period he reviewed research protocols and generated a global evidence base for insecticide use and pesticide management. He was also a Focal person in, the WHO secretariat for the FAO/WHO Joint Programme on Pesticide Management. The work involved collaboration with other UN and international organizations, research institutions, programmes, industry, NGOs, and other stakeholders. He is the recipient of the 2016, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Association of Entomologists. He has published more than 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Early life and education Rajpal Singh Yadav was born in Ahir(Yadav) family in Anandpur, Rajasthan, India to Sanskrit scholar Raghuvir Singh Yadav and Mota Devi. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology in 1977 from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. Later, from the same university, he received his M.Sc degree in Zoology in 1979 with a University gold medal and received his Ph.D. in science in 1984 in the field of insect toxicology, for which he received fellowships of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research. In 1989, he finished a certificate course in tropical epidemiology at the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila. In 1999, he received the British Council Fellowship in health impact assessment of development projects at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.

Career

After obtaining his Ph.D. in 1984, he joined as a lecturer for a short period in the postgraduate Department of Zoology, Government College Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India. From late 1984 till 2008, he served various positions at the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR, previously Malaria Research Center). In 2009, he joined as a scientist in vector ecology and management in the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. He also managed several global assignments with the World Health Organization in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2007. He was founder head of NIMR field centre in Rourkela which he headed from 1988 to 1995 and has served as Deputy Director (Senior Grade) and chief of NIMR field centre in Nadiad, Gujarat (1996-2008). He has over 28 years of experience in the field of vector bionomics and control, malariology and pesticide management. He contributed to WHO's normative functions of providing guidance on evaluation of new insecticides for use in public health.

Contribution in Public Health

During his early career, Dr. Yadav and his team pioneered the integrated approaches for malaria control. Later, he made significant contribution in developing policies and strategies for malaria control in India and South East Asia. He was instrumental in training medical entomologists and public health workers. He organized workshops for intersectoral collaboration in public health and sanitation bringing together non-health and non-governmental sectors. Dr Yadav has led teams in controlling malaria, dengue and chikungunya outbreaks and participated in mitigating many public health emergencies owing to earthquakes and heavy rainfall. His work has taken him across the world including in forested and tribal areas of SE Asia and socio-politically disturbed areas of Africa.

Presently, he is working in a team of the department of control of neglected tropical diseases that manages the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES).

For his outstanding contributions to the field of vector borne disease control, he was bestowed 'Best Scientist Award for Environmental Science 2011' by the National Academy of Vector Borne Diseases, India. Earlier on, he was honored by the Indian Medical Association for his role in malaria control in the Gujarat state.

Publications

Selected Journals