Global network created to support children with serious illnesses, led by Ziroat Mirziyoyeva

A Global Network to support children with serious illnesses was announced on Wednesday at the second International Congress on Childhood Cancer in Samarkand. The announcement was made by Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Vice President of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Director of St. Jude Global in the United States.

The network will bring together first ladies and spouses of heads of state for international cooperation and the exchange of experience to support children with serious, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. Uzbekistan's First Lady, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, was named chair of the network for a two-year term, the Zamin Foundation reported; she chairs its board of trustees.

The congress, held as part of the World Summit 'Investing in Children's Well-being', had the theme 'From Recovery to Quality of Life'. Health leaders from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia attended, along with representatives of the World Health Organization. Speaking at the event, Mirziyoyeva said: 'Diseases and suffering do not recognise political borders, nationality or income level.'