An awareness conference was held on September 4 as part of the "STRONG HOPE – HEALTHY FUTURE" project, with organizational support from the EMEDIA GROUP media organization to mark World Leukemia Day. The main goal of the conference was to raise public awareness of leukemia, highlight the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment, provide greater moral support to people living with the disease and their families, and encourage cooperation among government institutions, the healthcare sector, civil society and the media. The conference opened with the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
A minute of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs who lost their lives defending Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Members of the Azerbaijani Parliament, representatives of government institutions, doctors and other healthcare professionals, representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media, parents of children living with leukemia, and members of the public attended the event. Speakers included Elshan Aliyev, chairman of EMEDIA GROUP; Mehriban Baghirova, chairwoman of the "Fight Against Leukemia" Public Union; Mushfig Mammadli, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Health Committee; Gunay Aghamali, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Committee on Family, Women and Children; as well as representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan and other officials.
Elshan Aliyev said that one of the project's main objectives is to strengthen public awareness efforts concerning leukemia and draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis. He added that providing moral support to people battling the disease and their families is another key focus of the initiative. "Fighting leukemia is not only a healthcare issue.
It is also an important social issue that must be addressed at the family, community and state levels. Our initiative is aimed at providing public and media support to the social policy implemented by the state and contributing to greater public awareness," Aliyev said. Mehriban Baghirova said that although a leukemia diagnosis can be a serious medical and psychological challenge for patients and their families, it is not a death sentence.
She noted that advances in modern medicine, early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, as well as social and moral support play an important role in the fight against the disease. Baghirova also stressed the importance of public awareness, promoting a culture of blood donation and expanding support for voluntary donors. Baghirova noted that the "Fight Against Leukemia" Public Union has been active since September 29, 2006.
Over the years, the organization has held meetings with patients and their families, studied the social challenges they face, provided information about legal and social support opportunities, and organized awareness campaigns, charity projects and volunteer initiatives. Mushfig Mammadli, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament's, spoke about government measures to combat leukemia and other oncological diseases, as well as healthcare financing. He said that AZN 118 million has been allocated in the 2026 state budget for state oncology programmes, while up to AZN 5 million has been earmarked separately for bone marrow transplantation.
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