Academician Zarifa Aliyeva's Commemoration Day

April 15 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of the eminent ophthalmologist-scientist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

Born in the village of Shahtakhti in ancient Nakhchivan, Zarifa Aliyeva lived a rich and meaningful life. The life path of her father, a prominent public and statesman Aziz Aliyev, was a real school of life for her. Zarifa Aliyeva was a lifelong companion, friend and comrade-in-arms of the architect and founder of the contemporary independent Azerbaijani state, National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Academician Zarifa Aliyeva's research and great successes as a scientist constitute a special stage in the history of Azerbaijani medical science.

Among the urgent problems that Zarifa Aliyeva paid attention to as an ophthalmologist-scientist, diagnostics, treatment of glaucoma and inflammation of the organ of vision occupied a special place.

She created the first scientific research laboratory in the world to study occupational pathology of the organ of vision and laid the foundation for a new direction in science - occupational ophthalmology. Summarizing the initial results of her research in this field, she wrote a doctoral dissertation on the topic "The state of the organ of vision in workers of the chemical industry of Azerbaijan". In 1977, she was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences.

Zarifa Aliyeva was elected a full member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences in 1983. She is also the author of a number of textbooks and monographs.

Zarifa Aliyeva was the first to write books on iridology on a global scale.

Zarifa Aliyeva has many honorary titles, scientific titles, and awards. Each of these titles is a source of pride and honor. Nevertheless the most honorable among these titles is the title of Mother. Zarifa Aliyeva is the mother of President Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor to the political line of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev.