Celebrating Excellence: Meet the 2025 Winners of the FIGO Distinguished Merit and Recognition Awards!

At the recent Welcome Ceremony of the XXIII FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Cape Town, six remarkable individuals were honored for their lifelong dedication to women’s health. The FIGO Distinguished Merit Award celebrates health professionals who have made significant contributions to women’s and children’s wellbeing around the globe.

The Award Winners

H.E. Dr Mekdes Daba Feyssa
Dr. Feyssa is Ethiopia’s Minister of Health and a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. She earned her medical degree from Hawassa University. A notable achievement of hers is being Ethiopia’s first family planning sub-specialist, which highlights her commitment to advancing reproductive health.

Prof Christine Solbach
Prof. Solbach is a gynaecologic oncologist and the Deputy Director at Goethe-University Frankfurt. She has been deeply involved in improving breast health and was part of the leadership in the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics. Her work emphasizes the importance of cancer care in women’s health.

Prof Tadashi Kimura
With over 650 published articles, Prof. Kimura is a leading figure in the field. He has served in various leadership roles, including chair of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His dedication to research over decades has greatly influenced women’s health practices in Japan.

Recognition Beyond Medicine

The FIGO Recognition Awards also honor those outside the medical field who have made significant contributions to women’s health.

H.E. Madame Jeannette Kagame
As the First Lady of Rwanda, Madam Kagame has been a strong advocate for women’s health, focusing on issues from adolescence through adulthood. She played a pivotal role in launching HPV vaccination campaigns to prevent cervical cancer and has worked tirelessly on HIV awareness.

Prof Linda-Gail Bekker
Prof. Bekker directs the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in South Africa. Her research focuses on HIV prevention for women and youth. She has published over 700 peer-reviewed papers, establishing herself as a top scientist in the field.

“I’m honored to receive the FIGO Distinguished Recognition Award. My passion is to ensure women living with HIV thrive while also preventing new infections among young women,” says Prof. Bekker, highlighting the ongoing challenges in women’s health.

Dr Sima Samar
A global figure in human rights, Dr. Samar has dedicated her life to empowering women and advocating for their rights. As a visiting scholar at Tufts University, her previous roles included chairing Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission. Her work continues to inspire many around the world.

Conclusion

These awardees exemplify what it means to be leaders in women’s health. Their achievements show the need for ongoing efforts to improve healthcare and empower women globally. As we recognize their contributions, it’s also crucial to reflect on the broader context—statistics reveal that areas such as maternal health are still facing significant challenges, with nearly 400,000 women dying from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth each year, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The commitment of these awardees shines a light on the path forward in addressing such issues.

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