Alejandra Mendez, President of Childhood Cancer International, shared on LinkedIn:
“Yesterday I experienced a moment of enormous emotion and gratitude when I received the 2026 Innovators in Health Award presented by Mujeres Empresarias, Chile and CIF Chile.
I receive this recognition with great joy, but also with the conviction that it represents something much greater than a personal trajectory: the recognition of the contribution of civil society in the construction of a more just, humane and equitable health. Because our contribution also matters. And a lot.
Innovating in health does not only mean developing new technologies, treatments or scientific discoveries. Innovating is also daring to look at problems from another perspective. It is to get out of our own sounding boards, listen to different voices and recognize that the best solutions are often born when we find views that complement each other.
To innovate is to identify a problem, imagine a solution, convene different actors and work together until that solution is translated into real changes.
From civil society we not only accompany and support. We also propose, connect, mobilize, influence public policies and contribute to transforming health systems.
Because equity in health is not built from a single perspective. It is built by everyone.
I want to share this award with all the Chilean civil society organizations, foundations and NGOs that work tirelessly, often away from the spotlight, identifying needs, accompanying people, breaking down barriers and seeking solutions where there are still huge access gaps.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who made this recognition possible and for making visible a way of innovating that is born from listening, collaborating and transforming reality.
Let’s continue to open doors, build bridges and show that from civil society we can also promote great changes!”
You can also read:
Alejandra Mendez: Honored and Grateful to Speak at London Global Cancer Week 2026
