First Lady outshines global  philanthropists, lands top award in Russia Angel of Hope patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa holds hands with her fellow contestants when her name was called out as the winner in the Health of the Nation category during the #We are together Awards in recognition of her philanthropic works in Moscow, Russia yesterday

Tendai Rupapa in MOSCOW, Russia

FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday came out tops among international philanthropists and was duly honoured in the “health of the nation” category during the “#Wearetogether Awards” in recognition of her philanthropic work at a glittering ceremony presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian volunteer community came up with the initiative to encourage everyone who supports those in need around the world and to commend them for their great contribution to solve important humanitarian problems.

In her category were 3 400 applications from 85 regions in Russia and 78 applications from 32 countries around the world, including 21 from Africa.

Angel of Hope patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa receives her award which was handed over by Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova as the winner in the Health of the Nation category during the #We are together Awards in recognition of her philanthropic works in Moscow, Russia yesterday

Dr Mnangagwa, who has captured the imagination of the world through her charity work which is transforming the lives of women and other vulnerable members of the society for the better, was voted the winner, outclassing other competitors. There were other winners from various countries in other categories.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatiana Golikova is the one who handed her the award.

The mother of the nation, who is the country’s health and child care ambassador, has traversed the length and breadth of the country with her Angel of Hope Foundation’s mobile clinic providing free healthcare to communities, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin addresses awards recipients, among them First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, in Moscow, Russia yesterday

She has often teamed up with local and international health experts who are partners of her Angel of Hope Foundation to provide free cancer screening services for women and men in the remote parts of the country to save lives and ensure people are tested early for non-communicable diseases.

The First Lady has initiated reusable sanitary pad sewing projects for the benefit of girls and young women to improve menstrual hygiene and to ensure no girl pulls out of school due to challenges of not having something to use during their monthly cycles.

She has been mobilising and distributing hospital and clinic equipment and other essentials and has led from the front in raising awareness on Covid-19 countrywide.

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and other delegates listen to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address to winners and delegates during the awards ceremony at the #We are together Awards ceremony in Moscow, Russia yesterday. – Pictures: John Manzongo

President Putin said it was hard for him to find the right words to convey his appreciation to people who devote a large part of their lives to helping others.

“I would like to congratulate our volunteers and the winners,” he said. “It is hard to find the right words to convey our appreciation to the people who selflessly follow their hearts and help people and taking care of the environment and devout the large part of their lives to helping others who need this help and feel when someone is in need of help.

“Today it is particularly important to see you supporting the people who carry out the tasks of helping others. We would do everything in our power to support the volunteers and ensure that they are remembered. Many of you have risked your lives to help others. They are all worthy the recognition. I congratulate you on this volunteers day.

“This is a special day and today we must do what we must do to award them. The word volunteer is an international one but there is a purely, originally Russian one, which means someone who does something on their good will and this word signifies a lot goodwill, namely someone who does something good for others out of their own good will .

“That is the essence, the core of the entire volunteering movement and each and every one of you, thank you, I congratulate you all.”

Delegates follow and record proceedings with their cellphones at the awards ceremony where Angel of Hope patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa also received her award as the winner in the Health of the Nation category during the #We are together Awards in recognition of her philanthropic works in Moscow, Russia yesterday

In her congratulatory remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister said there was nothing more valuable in life than helping others.

“With all my heart I want to say thank you to all of you for what you are doing in your respective countries. Only people who have a big heart do what you are doing. You are doing great things. There is nothing more valuable in life than what you are doing, especially your category ‘health of the nation’. You are saving lives and that is very important.

“Thank you very much for this. In this category there were 3 400 applications from 85 regions in our country and 78 applications from 32 countries around the world. This is an international competition,” she said.

Angel of Hope patron First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa holds her award which she received in recognition of her philanthropic works in Moscow, Russia yesterday

In her acceptance speech, Dr Mnangagwa said she felt honoured to be presented with the award.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award for my work in philanthropy. It is an honour to be recognised for the efforts I am putting in helping others in my country. My deepest appreciation goes to the organisers of this event for nominating me for this award and to the public worldwide for voting me,” she said.

 

She further thanked her AOH Foundation’s partners for their continued support.

The international award #WeAreTogether is awarded within the framework of the eponymous international forum of civil participation.

This year, many awards were presented, for which volunteers from around the world were nominated.

The main goal of the award is to recognise and support those involved in socially significant initiatives aimed at helping people and improving the quality of their lives.

Amai Mnangagwa constructed a health post offering outpatient, maternal and child health services in Chiweshe.

Construction of a waiting shelter for expectant mothers is underway amid reports that some women were giving birth in forests while on their way to the nearest hospital, hence the health post could not have come at any better time.

The First Lady built the facility from her personal savings.

Furthermore, through her foundation, she also established a health post and a waiting mothers’ shelter in Kanyemba.

Currently, she is working on the construction of a Mother and Child Hospital in Harare.

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