Brazzaville, 26 May 2006 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo has paid tribute to Dr Jong-wook Lee who died on Monday, 22 May 2006 after a short illness, just before the opening of the 59th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA).

“The death of Dr Lee shortly after his hospitalization and hours before the opening of the 59th World Health Assembly is a tragic event for the World Health Organization and its Member States”, said Dr Sambo who is currently attending the World Health Assembly.

He described Dr Lee as “a great servant of the cause of public health, worldwide”. Dr Lee was directly involved at a very high level in the implementation of health programmes and initiatives focusing, as a matter of priority, on the health problems of developing countries especially the African continent. The initiatives were in areas such as polio eradication and vaccine supply, tuberculosis control and the 3 x 5 Initiative to enhance access to antiretrovirals by people living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Jong-wook Lee assumed office for a five-year term as WHO Director-General on 21 July 2003, after having served as Director of tuberculosis and vaccine-preventable diseases control, and subsequently as Director of the Stop TB Programme.

In a glowing tribute, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo said “WHO had been so prematurely robbed of Dr Jong-wook Lee, an ardent worker who is tirelessly in quest of justice”.

For more information contact:

Technical contact

Mr Bernardinho Cardoso

External Relations and Governing Bodies 

Tel. No. 00 47241 39322 

E.mail: cardosob [at] afro.who.int

Media contact

Flavienne Issemblè

Public Information and Communication Unit

Tel No. 00 47241 39352

E.mail: issembef [at] afro.who.int