The Central Bank of Tunisia prints a woman's image on a banknote.

The Central Bank of Tunisia has introduced a new 10 dinar banknote bearing the image of Tawhida Ben Cheikh, the first female doctor in Tunisia and the Maghreb, in recognition of the role of women and the doctors of the “White Army” in the battle against Corona.
This coincided with what Tunisia and the countries of the world are suffering in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, and the role that doctors play in the health sector everywhere in the world, so this is a tribute to the doctors, who have become known as the ”White Army” in the battle against Coronavirus.

Tawhida bint al-Sheikh is the first Tunisian and Arab woman whose image is placed on banknotes.

Dr. Tawhida was born in 1909 and was the first woman in Tunisia and North Africa to practice medicine.

She traveled to France where she studied medicine and returned to Tunisia in 1936 and opened her own clinic at a time when men dominated the practice of that profession.

She contributed to launching the family planning experiment in Tunisia, and headed several departments in the field of gynecology and pediatrics. In 1970, she was appointed director of the Family Planning Office.

Tawhida contributed to the cultural life of the country through the establishment of the first Tunisian women’s magazine, “Layla,” between 1936 and 1941, and other activities.

Tawhida was a prominent member of several Tunisian organizations and bodies, such as the Red Crescent and the National Office for Family Planning.