Osotimehin death “monumental loss” to NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association has opened a condolence register for the late executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, Babatunde Osotimehin, who died early Monday at 68, calling his death a “monumental loss”. Osotimehin’s death came just weeks after the association honoured him on April 18 as the NMA Global Health Ambassador in recognition […]

The Nigerian Medical Association has opened a condolence register for the late executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, Babatunde Osotimehin, who died early Monday at 68, calling his death a “monumental loss”.

Osotimehin’s death came just weeks after the association honoured him on April 18 as the NMA Global Health Ambassador in recognition of the progress he pushed in Nigeria’s health sector, according to NMA president Dr Mike Ogirima.

“His keynote address and acceptance speech clearly enunciated his vision and expectation of partnerships that make the world a better place to live through accountable reproductive health outcomes,” said Ogirima in a tribute.

Osotimehin had committed to align UNFPA activities with NMA’s new-minted five-year strategic plan to shake up the health sector.

“We did not know that will be his last official engagement with NMA,” said Ogirima.

“We lament that his dreams of aligning UNPFA activities to the implementation of the NMA STARTEGIC PLAN 2017-2022 and commitment towards assisting NMA to meet the yearning aspirations of Nigerians may no longer be fulfilled.

NMA,though heart broken, commits to fulfilling the desires of our noble elder and mentor as contained in his acceptance speech.

“We promise to [work] with UNFPA and other partners to actualise his dream of having a world that would be safe for young girls to live in; and in which women would not die needlessly trying to give birth and have choices while fulfilling their reproductive career.”

Similarly, the Management Sciences for Health (MSH) issued a tribute, calling Osotimehin a “tireless advocate for women, girls and youth.”

“MSH was proud to collaborate with him in Nigeria – partnering when he was Minister of Health to strengthen the country’s health system – and at UNPFA, standing beside him on the global stage advocating for the health, rights, and empowerment of women and girls,” said Marian W. Wentworth, MSH president.

“Dr. Osotimehin was a fearless advocate for family planning, standing up for the rights of adolescent girls, and worked to end maternal deaths and gender-based violence. He was eloquent yet bold and a dynamic and visionary leader greatly admired and respected by all.”

Until his death, Osotimehin was the fourth executive director of UNFPA and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2011 till date.

He was also a former minister for health and ex-head of the National Agency for Control of AIDS.