First Lady Jeannette Kagame has been given the inaugural Distinguished Recognition Award in Women’s Health by the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO).

The award was received on her behalf by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Hategeka, during the FIGO Opening Ceremony in Cape Town on October 5, honouring her transformative contributions to women’s and adolescent health.

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FIGO is a global leader in women’s health with 142 member societies, established its peer-reviewed Women’s Awards in 1997.

Recipients are selected by a panel of experts for their distinguished contributions to maternal and adolescent health worldwide.

The First Lady expressed her appreciation for the award.

"Honoured to receive the ‘FIGO Distinguished Recognition Award in Women’s Health’. Through Imbuto Foundation and partners, we have seen how empowering women and girls uplifts communities. Grateful to FIGO and all working tirelessly for women’s health and dignity," she said in a statement posted on X.

"I dedicate this recognition to the women, girls, and youth who inspire our journey."

The First Lady, who founded Imbuto Foundation in 2001, has championed academic excellence, celebrating nearly 8,000 girls.

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She has also worked to promote gender parity in school enrolment and introduced innovations in adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

In addition, she has supported youth-led solutions to teenage pregnancy and social vulnerabilities, and has led HPV vaccination campaigns for young girls.

Two other women received the the FIGO Distinguished Recognition Award in Women’s Health. There us Prof Linda-Gail Bekker, 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.

The other is Dr Sima Samar, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, human rights advocate and an influential female figure, who has dedicated her life to public service, humanitarian work and women’s empowerment. 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.