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| Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub |
Cairo, February 4, 2024: Zayed Award for Human Fraternity acknowledges today, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub among the distinguished honorees for the year 2024, during a press conference held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This recognition reflects his outstanding efforts in providing critical medical care, particularly for the most vulnerable segments of society, and his pivotal role in establishing the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation. The foundation has played a crucial role in saving the lives of millions of children, providing them with a new hope for life. Additionally, the award recognizes his contributions to advancing healthcare in the region and his dedication to training medical professionals.
The winner will be celebrated during the award ceremony, hosted by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity on February 5th, at the Founder’s Memorial in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. The independent judging committee is comprised of distinguished figures nominated by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the Pope of the Catholic Church, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, two individuals chosen by the Higher Committee of the Human Fraternity, and the Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub is nominated and honored for his charitable work, particularly through the establishment of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation in Egypt and other organizations. His efforts have saved thousands of lives, especially children, in addition to his groundbreaking innovations in surgical techniques that have revolutionized heart transplantation. The Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation provides top-tier healthcare for 40,000 patients per year through the Aswan Heart Centre. The Foundation has made significant progress in the construction of the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre in Cairo, spanning 36.5 acres and housing 304 beds to serve 120,000 patients annually. The centre will also perform 12,000 annual surgeries, with 60% allocated for children, and provide medical training for over 1,500 doctors and surgeons.
This new honor from the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, one of the most prestigious independent global awards, serves as recognition and appreciation for Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub's contributions to medicine, humanitarian work, and the fight against cardiovascular diseases.
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub was selected among three honorees, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations with more than 190 million members, have been recognized for their immeasurable humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts. In addition to, Sister Nelly Leon Correa, the President and Co-Founder of Fundación Mujer Levántate (Woman Standing Up Foundation). Her organization focuses on supporting incarcerated women, offering comprehensive support during their time in prison, and aiding their reintegration into society.
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity commends individuals and entities for their outstanding contributions to fostering unity among people, instilling values of human brotherhood, building bridges of communication and harmony among divided nations, and influencing others through exemplary leadership and innovative solutions. These honorees collaborate beyond the boundaries of division and disagreement, aiming to achieve real progress grounded in the steadfast belief in the values of human brotherhood. This approach strengthens human relationships and promotes peaceful coexistence in diverse societies.
The Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation (MYF) was established in 2008 by Dr. Magdi Yacoub to provide free medical services to treat cardiovascular diseases to the neediest, especially the less fortunate children. The MYF also works on training young scientific, medical, and nursing calibres at the highest international medical levels. Furthermore, MYF develops research in the field of basic and applied sciences as well as biomedical sciences to integrate treatment with research and talent development in an unprecedented way in the entire region. MYF is divided into the Aswan Heart Centre (AHC) and the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre in Cairo, the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa.
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an annual independent international award that recognizes people and entities of all backgrounds, anywhere in the world, who are working selflessly and tirelessly across divides to advance the timeless values of solidarity, integrity, fairness and optimism and create breakthroughs towards peaceful coexistence.
The award was launched in 2019, following the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which they co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity.
The award is named in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates, renowned for his humanitarianism and dedication to helping people no matter their background or place in the world.