WHO suffers tragic loss of a visionary leader

May 22 2006

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Lee Jong-wook of South Korea, has died suddenly following surgery for a blood clot on the brain.

Lee Jong-wook was 61 and had been the director-general of WHO since 2003.

The announcement was made at the opening session of the agency's annual assembly by Spain's Health Minister Elena Salgado.

The annual assembly was immediately suspended for 30 minutes following the announcement.

The five day meeting aims to discuss the global reaction to the threat of bird flu, whether or not to destroy the world's remaining stocks of smallpox and Taiwan's long-standing bid to win observership.

Lee had undergone an operation on Saturday to remove a blood clot on his brain at the Cantonal Hospital of Geneva after he had been taken ill suddenly in the afternoon.

Mike Leavitt the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services has said the death of Dr. Lee Jong-wook is a tragic loss to the World Health Organization and the global health community.

Dr. Lee had devoted his life to public service and to improving the human condition and was regarded as a visionary leader who embraced the spirit of global cooperation and strengthened the role of the WHO in the global community.

Lee had worked for the health agency at country and regional level and at the Geneva headquarters for 23 years and his outstanding leader had made the fight against HIV/AIDS a hallmark of his term of office.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan said the world has lost a great man who throughout his 23-year career at WHO had made a difference in every programme he managed.

Mr. Annan said Lee Jong-wook was a man of conviction and passion with the highest principles and an advocate on behalf of the very poorest people.

Mr. Annan commended Dr. Lee for his commitment to tackling the global challenge of HIV/AIDS, as well as the Roll Back Malaria campaign, and praised his efforts in the global fight to prevent an avian flu pandemic.

Annan said Lee was a champion in the battle against a host of public health threats.

Dr. Lee was apparently a modest man but a bold and strong leader with a wide-range of intellectual interests and was respected by governments and heads of state.

He is survived by his wife and son, two brothers and a sister.

Dr Anders Nordstrom, currently Assistant Director-General for General Management, will serve as Acting Director-General.