Nigeria’s ex-Health Minister Osotimehin dies at 68
…UN, UNFPA, Canada, Daniel lament
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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: THE former Minister of Health, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, is dead.
GatewayMail learnt that the 68-year-old Osotimehin, a global leader in promoting public health and sexual and reproductive rights and services for women and girls, died last Sunday at his home in West Harrison, New York, USA.
It was further learnt that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the agency he joined on January 1, 2011 as Undersecretary General and worked for till his death as Executive Director, announced his demise on Monday.
The United Nations (UN) has lamented the death of Osotimehin, who also once served as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, with the UNFPA saying that the lost was really devastating and that the women, girls and youth he dedicated his life to serving, would surely missed him.
The government of Canada, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has also offered condolences on the death, just as former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, expressed shock on the death of Osotimehin, a father of five and seven grandchildren.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in his reaction, said that the world had lost a great champion of health and well-being for all, while UNFPA said it was indeed a devastating loss.
“Sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are among the most important, and often sensitive, on the international agenda,” Guterres declared, adding: “Dr. Babatunde’s calm yet ardent efforts helped families get the sexual and reproductive health services they need, and helped the world advance the landmark 1994 Cairo Program of Action on Population and Development.”
The UNFPA, however, said: “Dr. Osotimehin was bold and never afraid of a challenge and his strong leadership helped keep the health and rights of the world’s women and girls high on the global agenda.”
It further said: “He understood that the world’s 1.8 billion young people are truly its greatest hope for the future.”
And Canada said: “We would like to pay our respects to Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends on this sad day.”
“Dr. Osotimehin was a fearless advocate for the rights and empowerment of women and girls everywhere, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights,” a statement jointly issued by Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and la Francophonie, Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health and the Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, said.
Canada also said: “He did not shy away from opposition or complex issues and was determined to fight for the rights of women and girls to make decisions affecting their own lives.
“He brought his exceptional intellect and leadership capacity to UNFPA and his willingness to engage with many different groups in civil society, especially young people and women, was a key reason for his success in his many different roles.”
“Babatunde, as he was commonly known, was a physician and public health expert. He was named Executive Director of UNFPA in January 2011. Prior to that he was Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Director-General of
Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS,” Canada further said, adding:“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by his passing.”
Daniel said in a news release signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Ayo Giwa, that the late Osotimehin, a one-time Provost of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, was an illustrious son of Ogun State, renowned medical expert, astute administrator and a dedicated public servant.
According to Daniel, the former Minister’s antecedents in the medical field and public service were exceptional as he distinguished himself by initiating laudable projects and policies that remained reference points in various areas of health care delivery in the country.
The ex-Governor prayed that the Almighty God to grant Osotimehin eternal rest and gives the immediate family, the good people of Ogun State and those who shared in the grief, the fortitude to bear the great loss.
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