WHO chief dies suddenly

GENEVA – Lee Jong-Wook, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has died suddenly after emergency brain surgery at the weekend, the UN agency announced at the opening of its flagship annual assembly yesterday.

Spanish health minister Elena Salgado, who was chairing the assembly, stunned the gathering of ministers and senior officials from 192 countries, with the announcement at the very beginning of the annual meeting. “I regret to inform you that Dr Lee Jong-Wook, director-general of the World Health Organisation, died this morning,” Salgado said.The assembly then observed a formal two-minute silence before the session was suspended.Lee, 61, was rushed to hospital in Geneva Saturday after being taken ill during an official engagement.He underwent surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain and remained in intensive care at Geneva’s University Hospital.He was declared dead at 07h43 yesterday, the WHO said in a statement.”All of the staff of the World Health Organisation extend their most sincere condolences to Dr Lee’s family.The sudden loss of our leader, colleague and friend, is devastating,” it added.- Nampa-AFP”I regret to inform you that Dr Lee Jong-Wook, director-general of the World Health Organisation, died this morning,” Salgado said.The assembly then observed a formal two-minute silence before the session was suspended.Lee, 61, was rushed to hospital in Geneva Saturday after being taken ill during an official engagement.He underwent surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain and remained in intensive care at Geneva’s University Hospital.He was declared dead at 07h43 yesterday, the WHO said in a statement.”All of the staff of the World Health Organisation extend their most sincere condolences to Dr Lee’s family.The sudden loss of our leader, colleague and friend, is devastating,” it added.- Nampa-AFP