Baku: Today marks the 103rd anniversary of the birth of the distinguished ophthalmologist and academician, Zarifa Aliyeva. Zarifa Aliyeva was born on April 28, 1923, in the village of Shahtakhti in Nakhchivan.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Zarifa Aliyeva’s research and significant scientific contributions hold a notable place in the history of medical science in Azerbaijan. After graduating from the Azerbaijan Medical Institute, she pursued further education in Moscow at the Institute for Advanced Training of Doctors. In 1949, she began her career as a research worker at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute for Advanced Training of Doctors, dedicating her life to ophthalmology.
In the 1940s and 1950s, eye diseases, especially trachoma, posed a significant health challenge in Azerbaijan. Zarifa Aliyeva focused on the treatment of trachoma, traveling to regions where the disease was prevalent, identifying affected areas, and educating ophthalmologists and the public. Her successful application of synthomycin for treating trachoma led to the defense of her candidate’s dissertation in 1959. The treatment method she developed was extensively used and played a crucial role in eradicating trachoma in the republic.
Zarifa Aliyeva also specialized in diagnosing and treating glaucoma and inflammation of the eye. She pioneered research into the occupational pathology of vision, establishing the first scientific research laboratory to study this field. Her doctoral dissertation on the impact of chemical industry work on vision led to her being awarded the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences in 1977.
For her scientific achievements, Zarifa Aliyeva received the title of “Honored Scientist” in 1980 and the M. I. Averbakh Prize from the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences in 1981, becoming the first female scientist to receive this prestigious award. In 1983, she was elected a full member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. She authored numerous textbooks and monographs, contributing significantly to iridology and iridotherapy.
Beyond her scientific work, Zarifa Aliyeva was actively involved in various organizations, serving as a member of the former USSR Peace Defense Committee, deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan Peace Defense Committee, and other notable positions.
Zarifa Aliyeva passed away in Moscow on April 15, 1985. Her remains were transported to Baku in 1994 and laid to rest in the Alley of Honor, beside her father, Aziz Aliyev.