Ziroat Mirziyoyeva Receives WHO Award for Leadership in Children’s Health
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva has received an international World Health Organization (WHO) award recognising her leadership in developing healthcare for children with cancer and advancing every child’s right to a healthy life. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented the award during the World Summit on Investing in Children’s Well-being and the Second International Congress on Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, held in Samarkand.
“Madam First Lady, you are a true global champion for children, especially those fighting cancer, and a defender of every child’s right to education and a healthy life,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Established in 2019, the award recognises exceptional leadership and achievements that deliver tangible results in public health. Previous recipients have included heads of state and international organisations, Nobel laureates, scientists and public figures. They were honoured for contributions to global immunisation, combating infectious diseases, expanding access to healthcare and strengthening international cooperation in public health.
During the summit, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Zamin Foundation, also visited an exhibition with summit guests. The exhibition placed the child at the centre of its narrative, tracing the key stages of a person’s life.
It followed the journey from care for an expectant mother and safe birth through a child’s first steps, kindergarten, school, the challenges of adaptation, career choices and the beginning of working life. The displays highlighted children’s fundamental needs, including safety, family support, access to education, communication and the opportunity to shape their own future.
The exhibition also emphasised the continuous responsibility of the state and society to create conditions in which children can thrive. Healthcare, social protection and education were presented as interconnected areas that shape a child’s opportunities and prospects.
At the end of the visit, guests gathered around a large paper boat, wrote down their most heartfelt wishes and attached them to it, symbolically sending their shared hopes on a long voyage.
Established in 2019, the award recognises exceptional leadership and achievements that deliver tangible results in public health. Previous recipients have included heads of state and international organisations, Nobel laureates, scientists and public figures. They were honoured for contributions to global immunisation, combating infectious diseases, expanding access to healthcare and strengthening international cooperation in public health.
During the summit, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Zamin Foundation, also visited an exhibition with summit guests. The exhibition placed the child at the centre of its narrative, tracing the key stages of a person’s life.
It followed the journey from care for an expectant mother and safe birth through a child’s first steps, kindergarten, school, the challenges of adaptation, career choices and the beginning of working life. The displays highlighted children’s fundamental needs, including safety, family support, access to education, communication and the opportunity to shape their own future.
The exhibition also emphasised the continuous responsibility of the state and society to create conditions in which children can thrive. Healthcare, social protection and education were presented as interconnected areas that shape a child’s opportunities and prospects.
At the end of the visit, guests gathered around a large paper boat, wrote down their most heartfelt wishes and attached them to it, symbolically sending their shared hopes on a long voyage.
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