The late Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jiko Luveni has been acknowledged for her contributions to the health sector at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete was on-hand to receive the award in her honour.

According to a tweet from the WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai, Dr. Jiko was posthumously honoured as a global health hero during the opening of the 72nd assembly.

Very proud to see the contributions of Hon. Jiko Lufeni, former Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji ??, recognised globally. She was posthumously honoured as a global health hero during today’s #WHA72 opening. Thank you for all you did, Speaker Jiko. We were lucky to know you. pic.twitter.com/jlvKuFqKMC

— Dr Takeshi Kasai (@takeshi_kasai) May 20, 2019

The Director goes on to say his very proud to see the contributions of the former Speaker recognized globally.

Thank you to the Ministers of Health from ??, ??, ?? and ?? for your leadership in organising today’s side event on Safe & Affordable Surgery @WHA72. I agree with Minister @DrIfereimi – without safe and affordable surgery, there is no #UHC! #HealthForAll

— Dr Takeshi Kasai (@takeshi_kasai) May 20, 2019

The late Speaker was also Fiji’s pioneering female Dentist.

The WHO Health Heros focus on ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Dr. Jiko graduated in dentistry from the Fiji School of Medicine in 1967, the first Fijian woman to do, after which she worked for the Ministry of Women for more than 20 years.

After leaving the public health sector, Dr. Jiko than worked with the United National Population Fund for the next 15 years from 1987 to 2002.

In 2008, Dr. Jiko was appointed the Minister of Health portfolio as well as that of the Ministry of Women under the interim administration at the time.

Prior to that she also worked as a Project Officer with the Fiji Network for People Living with HIV, an NGO.

Dr. Jiko turned to politics in 2013 winning a seat in the 2014 General Elections on a FijiFirst ticket.

She resigned from parliament to be considered for the Speaker of the House position which she successfully obtained serving her debut term from 2014 to 2018.

In 2018, she retained her position as the Speaker of Parliament before succumbing to a short illness in December last year and passing away.