The Secretary-General is saddened by the passing of Dr. David Nabarro, who had been the World Health Organization’s Special Envoy dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
Dr. Nabarro was a tireless advocate for global health – a leader who brought clarity, compassion and conviction to some of the world’s most complex health emergencies, from AIDS and malaria to avian influenza and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He dedicated his life to the conviction that health is a human right – and worked to help make that right a reality for all people, everywhere.
For Dr. Nabarro, a healthier world meant equitable access to vaccines, nutrition and essential care – especially for the most vulnerable.
The Secretary-General pays tribute to Dr. Nabarro’s extraordinary legacy of service and reaffirms his commitment to advancing the principles he championed: solidarity, science and health for all.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General New York, 29 July 2025