A year ago, Asia-Plus published a report on the oldest woman in Tajikistan, Basimo Turayeva, who was 120 years old at the time. She shared that she had 7 children and around 210 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. In honor of Mother’s Day, we decided to check on her health a year later.
Mirzoali Gadoyev, Basimo Turayeva’s son, told Asia-Plus that her health is still good, but she has become a bit forgetful.
“My mother lives surrounded by her children and grandchildren in Dushanbe. She doesn’t complain about her health, only she has become a little forgetful, and her hearing has worsened. She sits by the stove, watches TV, and occasionally goes outside. To keep her from feeling lonely, we visit her or take her to other relatives,” he said.
According to him, despite her age, Basimo Turayeva does not take any medications and relies on herbal remedies. “She eats light foods like porridge, atola, shirchoy ( a traditional, creamy Tajik breakfast beverage (and light meal) made by simmering black tea, water, and milk), and loves fruits and dried fruits. She has a good appetite and takes care of her health. She speaks well and still tells her grandchildren stories about her life,” Gadoyev noted.
According to the documents, Basimo Turayeva was born on May 6, 1904, in the village of Chashmai Bedak in the Khovaling district, and in two months, she will celebrate her 122nd birthday.
She says the secret to her longevity is not taking medications and following a healthy diet. Last year, she said she has never taken pills.
According to the Social Insurance and Pension Agency of Tajikistan, as of February 2026, there are 239 people over the age of 100 living in the country. The average life expectancy in Tajikistan is 76.6 years.
