GENEVA, May 27 -- Palize Mehmett, who has focused on basic public health initiatives in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China, was presented with the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize on Friday during a plenary meeting of this year's World Health Assembly.

Over the last 30 years, the female doctor visited 97 counties and cities and some 300 villages to provide critical information on nutrition, breastfeeding and drinking water safety.

Mehmett has also trained thousands of primary health care personnel to use low-cost nutritional interventions.

Her work has had a positive impact on tens of millions of people according to the World Health Organization (WHO), whose Executive Board designates winners based on recommendations made by the selection panel of each foundation which awards a prize.

The 52-year-old doctor received 20,000 U.S. dollars as recognition for her work.

Three other men and a group comprised of a few dozen healthcare workers also received prizes which are created by or set up in memory of eminent health professionals.