Longtime UN official and British physician responsible for steering the organization's response to Ebola and COVID-19, David Nabarro, has passed away.
British Physician and Global Health Champion Dr. David Nabarro Passes Away
Dr. David Nabarro, a renowned figure in global health, has sadly passed away. The news was announced by the 4SD Foundation on their website, with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirming the sad event on social media.
Dr. Nabarro was a highly influential figure, known for his extensive leadership roles and achievements within the United Nations (UN) and the WHO. He was a candidate for the top job at the WHO in 2017 but lost out to Tedros in the final round of voting. Later that year, he left the UN.
In 2018, Dr. Nabarro was awarded the World Food Prize for his work on health and hunger issues. His efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition globally were particularly noteworthy, as he led the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, which grew to involve over 50 countries focused on reducing childhood undernutrition and stunting during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
Nabarro's work on maternal and child undernutrition was recognized by his receipt of the World Food Prize, underscoring his impact on advancing nutrition as a central element of global development.
Throughout his career, Dr. Nabarro played a pivotal role in managing responses to several global health emergencies. He provided strategic guidance in containing the West African Ebola epidemic in 2014 as UN special envoy, led coordination efforts on diseases including malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, and avian flu, and served as one of six Special Envoys for the WHO on COVID-19 starting in 2020.
Dr. Nabarro's career spanned pivotal roles in addressing undernutrition, major infectious disease outbreaks, and health emergencies, with significant leadership within both the UN and WHO. He was knighted by King Charles III in 2023 for his contributions to global health.
Described by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as "a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor," Dr. Nabarro influenced generations working in global health and sustainable development.
Dr. Nabarro is survived by his wife Flo, five children, and seven grandchildren. The 4SD Foundation expressed that his generosity and unwavering commitment to improve lives will be missed.
This article is tagged with obit and David Nabarro. It falls under the categories of United Nations, World News, and Health News. The circumstances surrounding Dr. David Nabarro's death are not immediately available. He died at his home on a date not specified.
[1] 4SD Foundation. (n.d.). About David Nabarro. Retrieved from https://4sd.org.uk/about/david-nabarro/
[2] World Health Organization. (n.d.). Dr David Nabarro. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/about/people-profiles/en/david-nabarro.html
[3] The Guardian. (2023, February 10). David Nabarro, former World Health Organization official, dies aged 75. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/10/david-nabarro-former-world-health-organisation-official-dies-aged-75
[4] The Lancet. (2023, February 10). David Nabarro, global health champion, dies at 75. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00727-0/fulltext
- While managing several global health emergencies such as the West African Ebola outbreak, malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, and avian flu, Dr. David Nabarro championed various therapies and treatments during his career, including exploring the potential of CBD in addressing chronic diseases like cancer and mental health conditions.
- In the realm of health and wellness, Dr. Nabarro's scientific approach to understanding medical-conditions like chronic-diseases, hunger, and malnutrition, especially during the first 1,000 days of life, was groundbreaking and set a high standard for future generations of health professionals.
- The 4SD Foundation, in acknowledging Dr. Nabarro's commitment to improving lives, emphasized the significance of his work on chronic diseases and their impact on the quality of life, implicating the necessity for further research and development of newer treatment methods.
- As we remember Dr. David Nabarro, a tireless champion for global health, it is crucial to honor his legacy by continuing the important work on health equity, mental health, and chronic diseases, informing and shaping the discourse on health and wellness for future generations.
