At the Welcome Ceremony of the XXIII FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Cape Town, six outstanding professionals received awards for their lifelong commitment to championing women’s health and rights globally.
The FIGO Distinguished Merit Award honours gynaecologists and obstetricians who have made extraordinary contributions to the ideals and vision of FIGO, improving the health and wellbeing of women, girls and newborns worldwide.
This year’s winners are:
H.E. Dr Mekdes Daba Feyssa
H.E. Dr Mekdes Daba Feyssa, a distinguished medical professional, currently serves as the Minister of Health in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. With a specialisation in obstetrics and gynaecology, her academic journey includes obtaining a medical undergraduate degree from Hawassa University and completing residency training in obstetrics and gynaecology at AAU. Notably, she is the first family planning sub-specialist in Ethiopia.
Prof Christine Solbach
Prof Soldbach is a gynaecologic oncologist and breast surgeon. She is Deputy Director of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Division Chief Senology (Breast Center) at the University Medicine Goethe-University Frankfurt. She served as member of the Board of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) from 2016-2020, and as member of the Executive Board from 2020-2022 She is a member of the FIGO Council representing DGGG and current Chair of the FIGO Committee on Breast Health.
Prof Tadashi Kimura
Professor Kimura is Professor Emeritus of the University of Osaka and worked as a chairperson of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department for 17 and a half years. As a physician-scientist, he has published 650 original articles, 60 review articles in 17 international journals and 44 domestic educational lectures since 1988. He has served for Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology as Chairperson from 2019-2023, and as Auditor from 2023-present. He also served for FIGO’s Executive Board from 2011-2017 and the XXII FIGO World Congress Scientific Committee from 2015-18. In 2024, he was awarded Medical Research Encouragement Prize by the Japan Medical Association for his achievements.
The FIGO Recognition Awards recognises highly distinguished individuals outside the OBGYN profession who have performed an exceptional service to women’s health.
This year’s winners are:
H.E. Madame Jeannette Kagame
H.E. Madam Jeannette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, became a founding member of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) in 2002, and served as its President from 2004 to 2006. Madam Kagame, who holds a degree in Business and Management Science, has delivered keynote speeches at numerous national and international fora leadership, economics, health, children’s welfare and women’s empowerment, among other themes. She is pioneering advocate for women’s health from adolescence through adulthood and has made transformative contributions to sexual and reproductive health. She spearheaded ground breaking HPV vaccination campaigns, successfully protecting young women against cervical cancer, and actively engaged in various important themes including HIV prevention, awareness on cervical cancer, breast cancer and leadership, among others.
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker is the Chief Executive Officer of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and Director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is a physician, scientist and infectious disease specialist. Her research interests include programmatic and action research around antiretroviral roll-out and TB integration, prevention of HIV in women, youth and MSM. Prof Bekker serves on numerous international scientific and advisory committees. She is a A+ rated scientist, has published more than 700 peer-reviewed papers.
“I’m honoured and delighted to receive the FIGO Distinguished Recognition Award in Women’s Health. My career has been dedicated to optimising treatment, care and prevention for people living with and most affected by HIV infection and related infections and conditions. In our region, women bear the brunt of HIV. My passion is to see women thrive while living with HIV, and to ensure that HIV infection in young women and vertical transmission to children are eliminated. I really appreciate and thank FIGO for this recognition.”
– Prof Linda-Gail Bekker
Dr Sima Samar
A Nobel Peace Prize nominee, renowned human rights advocate and an identified global influential female figure, Dr Sima Samar has dedicated her life to public service, humanitarian work and women’s empowerment. Dr Samar is currently a visiting scholar at Fletcher School at Tufts University and between 2002 -2019 she was the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). Prior to her appointment as the chair of AIHRC, she was the Vice President of the Interim Administration of Afghanistan and the first Minister of Women’s Affairs for six months. Dr Samar served as the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Sudan between 2005 and 2009 and in 2019 has been appointed as a member of the United Nation’s Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. She also served as member of High-Level Panel for Internal Displacement from 2020 to September 2021.
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