World mourns UNFPA boss Babatunde Osotimehin
UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin talks to Amina Diss and her children at the Hagadera refugee site in the Dadaab complex during his visit on September 2, 2011. Dr Osotimehin is dead. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The development fraternity is mourning the death of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin.
Dr Osotimehin passed away suddenly at his home in New York on Sunday, aged 68, according to UNFPA.
CAUSE
The cause of his death is yet to be established.
“This is a devastating loss for UNFPA and for the people, especially women, girls and youth, he dedicated his life to serving, starting from when he became a doctor in Nigeria,” said UNFPA management.
“UNFPA expresses its deep sympathy to his family and prays that they have the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres led the world in mourning Dr Osotimehin.
“I mourn the death of UNFPA chief Dr Babatunde Osotimehin. Our world lost a great champion for wellbeing of all, especially women & girls," he posted on his Twitter page.
VISIT
Kenya’s Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki described Dr Osotimehin as “champion for women and youth” and lauded his work in reproductive health.
United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kenya Siddharth “Sid” Chatterjee also called him a fighter to the end against female genital mutilation and child marriage.
Kenya was among the first countries Dr Babatunde visited immediately after he took the helm of UNFPA.
He came back to Kenya in June 2016 for a meeting accompanied by Melinda Gates.
Dr Maureen Mwanawasa, Zambia’s for first lady, wrote: “Sincere condolences to the family. Such rare commitment to duty in serving humanity.”
ACTING BOSS
UNFPA supports several reproductive health programmes in Kenya, including studies that mark the performance of the counties on maternal health.
Dr Babatunde, a trained physician, became the director of the organisation on January 1, 2011.
Before this appointment, Dr Osotimehin was Nigeria’s minister of health.
Prior to that, he was director-general of the National Agency for the Control of Aids, which coordinated HIV and Aids work in Nigeria.
The acting director is Natalia Kanem, who was his deputy.
