World Health Assembly mourns death of UN health agency chief

The World Health Assembly opened its session in Geneva today in a sombre mood following the death of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Lee Jong-wook, who died at age 61 this morning after a blood clot was removed from his brain over the weekend.

Opening the formal proceedings of the Assembly, Spain’s Minister of Health, Elena Salgado, said Dr. Lee, who had served at the agency’s helm since 2003, “was an exceptional person and an exceptional Director-General.” The Assembly observed a two-minute silence in his memory.

Excerpts from a speech prepared by the late leader were read out to participants by Dr. Bill Kean, Executive Director of the Director-General's Office. In the speech, Dr. Lee set out his commitment to tackle difficult problems and change expectations, including with respect to the HIV/AIDS pandemic – the fight against which had been a hallmark of his career.

Dr. Lee emphasized the need to provide AIDS medicines to all those in need. “Universal access,” he wrote, “means that no one should die because they can’t get drugs. It means that no one will miss being tested, diagnosed and treated because there aren’t clinics. It means that HIV positive mothers will not unwittingly give a death sentence to their babies. Their parents will live to look after them instead of making them AIDS orphans.”

After the Director-General’s speech, the Assembly was introduced to a passionate young HIV/AIDS activist from Kenya, Johnson Mwakanze, who delivered a poem decrying the stigmatization that can accompany the disease. Dr. Lee wrote, “This is a voice that must be heard. He speaks for the 40 million people living with HIV, those living in the shadow of stigma.”

Dr. Lee's speech urged countries to redouble their efforts in the fight to eradicate polio. “The world has invested $4 billion so far in polio eradication,” he wrote. “I appeal to you all to continue your support – both political and financial – until the job is finished.” He also pledged that WHO would exercise much greater leadership in malaria control.”

Earlier today, following the announcement of the WHO leader’s death, Secretary-General Kofi Annan paid tribute to him saying, “He will be very gravely missed, but history will mark Lee Jong-wook’s many contributions to public health.”

This homage was echoed by UN officials across the world. General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, speaking from Stockholm, reacted with sadness and shock, saying Dr. Lee “has been playing a leading role on so many public health issues, from preventing an avian flu epidemic to fighting AIDS and tuberculosis,” according to a UN spokesperson.

The Executive Director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Dr. Peter Piot, issued a statement in Geneva saying that with the passing of Dr. Lee “the world has lost one of its greatest forces for good health – a scientist, policymaker and leader of exceptional calibre and accomplishments.”

The UNAIDS chief said he had personally lost a friend and ally. “The loss of Dr. Lee, a distinguished humanitarian advocate who gave long and devoted service to the United Nations, will be sorely felt by all those who had the honour to work with him,” said Dr. Piot. “He will be greatly missed by us all.”