WHO's special envoy for Covid-19 David Nabarro dies aged 75
The WHO's director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened by the passing' of Nabarro.
London-born Nabarro worked at the United Nations for 17 years, expanding nutrition programmes to underdeveloped countries and tackling health crises including outbreaks of malaria, bird flu and Ebola, before leaving in 2017.
He was appointed as special envoy on Covid-19 for the WHO in 2020 and appeared on news programmes regularly throughout the pandemic, telling Sky News in June 2021 that humanity was going to have to learn how to 'co-exist' with Covid-19.
Advertisement
Nabarro was knighted at Buckingham Palace in March 2023 for his outstanding contribution to global health.
Dr Tedros wrote on X: 'Deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of our dear friend, colleague and WHO Envoy David Nabarro.
'David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals.
'His work touched and impacted so many lives across the world.
'On behalf of WHO, I'm extending our heartfelt condolences to David's family, friends and colleagues.
'Rest in peace, my dear friend. We will dearly miss your expertise, wisdom and kindness.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Radiologist wants to see Kerry cancer bus service ‘replicated across the country'
This is where the Kerry Cancer Support Group (KCSG) and their Healthlink Transport Service comes in. The Kerry group helps provide transport for patients undergoing radiology treatment in both Cork and Limerick, and since these services began they have provided a lifeline to thousands of patients, ensuring they can get to hospital for treatment. Lorraine and her team at the oncology centre have helped support the Limerick Healthlink Transport Service and can see first-hand just how important it is for patients. "It is a lifeline for some patients to be honest, they are coming here from far afield including North Kerry and West Limerick and the bus really helps alleviate the stress of travelling up and down,' said Ms Walsh. "Daily radiation is a huge burden on patients and their families. The delivery of care is often straightforward but getting to it is the challenge,' she said. Having witnessed just how beneficial the service is, Lorraine would love to see it replicated, particularly given the increase in cancer diagnoses especially in younger generations. "Previously you wouldn't have seen bowel, breast or lung cancers in younger people but they are increasing every year,' says Lorraine who adds that, given the need to travel daily for the treatment, it is vital to have support like the bus. "There was a glut of cancer diagnosis after Covid, maybe because patients didn't go hospital or because diagnostic tests were cancelled. It has settled a bit more and more in the younger age category are getting diagnoses 'All radiotherapy centres are in urban areas... It is a huge burden on patients and their families to get to these areas. Treatment can be long, for prostate cancer it can be seven weeks Monday to Friday every single week. It has changed a bit but it can be four weeks every day. 'Services could easily be replicated in other parts of the country especially in Dublin where they reliant on taxes. It would also ease the cost burden to the health service,' she said. "That is my wishlist, to see it everywhere,' she adds. Earlier this week Lorraine and the Kerry Cancer Support Group launched a new vehicle for the Limerick service, replacing the original bus which since 2019 has clocked up nearly 300,000 kilometres helping hundreds of people in the region get to their treatment safely and comfortably. 'The introduction of this new bus is a testament to our shared dedication to compassionate, community-led care, removing barriers to access and easing the physical and emotional burden of travel for patients during an incredibly challenging time.'
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Irish Post
How Riley is changing period care in Ireland and beyond
WHEN Fiona Parfrey speaks about period care, she doesn't mince words. 'We want period products to be treated just like toilet paper; something that's readily available in every bathroom you walk into,' she says. Parfrey is the co-founder of Riley, a rapidly growing Irish startup that's shaking up the period care industry—not just with sustainable products, but with a bold mission to break the silence and shame around menstruation. 'We're aiming to remind people it's a normal bodily function,' she says. 'There's nothing to be ashamed about.' Born and raised in Cork, Parfrey studied marketing at University College Cork. 'I'm a very proud Corkonian,' she laughs. 'I studied marketing and worked in agencies across Dublin and Australia, and then I moved into the startup world in Australia. That's where I kind of fell in love with entrepreneurship.' That love turned into a career. After leaving her job in Australia, Parfrey went backpacking around the world, which sparked her first business idea. 'I realised there was a gap in the market for a travelling backpack that was ergonomically designed to fit the female body,' she says. 'A lot of the backpacks on the market were bulky and hard to carry for women. So I created a backpack that was made using recycled plastic.' The brand, Sundrift, gained traction until the COVID pandemic disrupted the travel industry and forced Parfrey to shift gears. That pivot led to Riley. The idea for Riley wasn't born in a boardroom or a brainstorm session. It happened over wine with a friend. 'The conversation happened quite naturally one evening,' Parfrey says. 'We were talking about how frustrated we were with the period products we had been using our entire lives.' That frustration turned into a revelation. 'We discovered that many mainstream period products are manufactured with up to 24 hormone-disrupting chemicals and covered in plastic,' she says. 'There were so many unnecessary ingredients in the manufacturing process. We felt like surely there's a better way of doing this.' When they couldn't find a cleaner, more sustainable alternative on the Irish market, Parfrey and her co-founders decided to build one themselves. Riley launched in 2021 as an e-commerce subscription service delivering organic, plastic-free period products directly to consumers' doors. 'We knew that when we started to build something clean, it would not only be better for our bodies but better for the planet as well,' Parfrey says. Sustainability isn't a marketing buzzword for Riley; it's a core principle of the business. 'Our applicators on our tampons are made from a bio-based solution, derived from sugarcane,' Parfrey notes. 'And we try to keep the environment in mind in every element of our supply chain.' But it hasn't been easy. 'It's a real journey to make things as sustainable as possible as we grow the business." Riley has since expanded from its consumer-focused model into the corporate space. 'We've started a big corporate offering,' Parfrey says. 'We supply period products to companies so they can stock them in staff bathrooms, just like they stock toilet paper. It's about making period care accessible, visible, and normal.' Parfrey is encouraged by how Ireland has responded to the brand and its mission. 'It's been really refreshing how open people have been, across generations, across genders, to actually talking about this,' she says. 'We've been really pleasantly surprised by the support we've gotten from all types of people.' But she's quick to note that stigma still lingers. 'If you survey young girls in school, 50% of them still feel shame when they're talking about periods. That's a huge problem,' she says. 'We've made progress, but we still have a long way to go.' The issue, she believes, goes far beyond just product accessibility. It's cultural, educational, and deeply gendered. 'Women go through a lot in their lifetime; from periods to childbirth to menopause and everything in between,' Parfrey says. 'It's important not just that women understand what's going on in their bodies, but that men do too.' She's especially passionate about closing the knowledge and research gap in women's health. 'There's been more research and studies on male baldness than there has been on endometriosis. That's shocking.' Riley was launched in 2021 (Photo by Riley) Riley is a proudly Irish company, but built to scale. 'We're an Irish-registered company,' says Parfrey. 'I'm based in Cork; we have a small office here and another in Dublin. My co-founder, Áine, has moved over to London as we try to grow the business in the UK.' That international push is already bearing fruit. 'Our supply chain is set up to serve all of Europe, and we have clients and direct customers all throughout Europe,' Parfrey says. 'We absolutely have global ambitions. The beauty of this business is that periods transcend borders, cultures, and languages. It's such a common thing for women no matter where they come from.' Reflecting on her startup journey, Parfrey encourages others not to wait for perfection. 'Just launch a minimum viable product. Get something to market and learn from your early adopters. If we had waited to launch a perfect product, we still wouldn't be in the market today.' Listening to feedback, she says, has been critical. 'Be close to your customer. Take their feedback on board. We constantly try to improve and make changes as we grow.' 'The more we talk openly about periods, the more we understand each other,' she says. 'And the easier it will be for everyone.' Whether it's tackling sustainability or breaking stigma in boardrooms and classrooms, Riley is charting a new course, one that's not just better for the body, but better for the planet too. See More: Business, Period Care, Startups
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Suspicious' antivax mum accuses paramedics of ‘killing' model daughter after she refused ‘lifesaving' cancer treatment
CONSPIRACY theorist Kay "Kate" Shemirani has accused paramedics of killing her daughter after she refused lifesaving cancer treatment, an inquest has heard. Paloma Shemirani, a 23-year-old University of Cambridge graduate, collapsed on July 19 last year and was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital. 9 Paloma Shemirani died from a heart attack after being diagnosed with cancer Credit: Facebook 9 Paloma's mum, Kate, is a notorious anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist Credit: Alamy 9 The 23-year-old turned down treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma Credit: Facebook She died just five days later, on July 24 of a heart attack. Just months earlier, Paoloma, who was a finalist in Miss Universe Great Britain 2021 , had declined treatment for - a type of blood cancer which starts in the lymph nodes. Her mother, Kate who rose to prominence on social media while sharing Kate, who was involved in Paloma's "alternative treatment" called her friend before calling an ambulance the day her daughter collapsed, the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court in Maidstone, heard. Read more on Paloma On Wednesday, reading a prepared witness statement, she accused the inquest of "attempting to shift focus" from the "real" cause of Paloma's death. "Any attempt to place responsibility on me is false - the people who need to be answering are those who failed to confirm diagnosis, administered drugs without her consent which could have damaged her heart," said Kate. Kate told the court that a "sequence of medical actions" caused her daughter's death, which she claimed amounted to "gross negligence manslaughter". She claims that while in hospital in December 2023, Paloma was given medication without her consent and felt "pressured and bullied" by medical staff. Most read in Health "I became very suspicious and deeply concerned about what was happening," Kate told the coroner. Paloma's twin brother, Gabriel Shemirani, suggests that when Paloma was first diagnosed, she was considering chemotherapy, before their parents started to pressure her against it. Son of anti-vax nurse being probed by cops for comparing NHS medics to Nazis slams 'arrogant' mum Kate was struck off as a nurse in 2021, having qualified in the 1980s and a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) committee found she had spread Covid-19 misinformation that "put the public at a significant risk of harm". After her stay in hospital in December 2023, Paloma began an alternative treatment programme which included daily coffee enemas, a strict diet and green juices, the inquest heard previously. "Paloma made her own treatment choices based on her values, research and experiences," said Kate. She added that her daughter was "never a victim of coercion" and that she "continued to improve physically" under her alternative medicines. "She was determined to get well on her own terms and this is well documented in her own high court statement which was read out in this coroner's hearing" said Kate. On the day she collapsed, she had an appointment with an osteopath, Nick Gosset, who described her on Wednesday as "a young lady who was in the last stages of a very difficult disease" and said he advised she seek medical help. 9 Paloma's twin brother, Gabriel Shemirani, previously blamed Kate for her death Credit: PA 9 Paloma was considered chemo before her parents got involved, Gabriel claims Credit: Facebook 'She's dying' Today, her mother disagreed saying: "On the morning of July 19 Paloma was well. "She looks healthy and good colour ... she was smiling and laughing, she was not as described yesterday by the osteopath." Paloma collapsed at home later that day, and her mother called her friend who then called an ambulance while they initiated CPR. On the 999 call played to the court, Kate was heard shouting "she's dying" to the operator before the paramedics arrived. She also told the ambulance operator "it's difficult to lie her on her front because she has a medicinal mass" in her throat, the inquest heard. In her evidence, Kate told the court that when the paramedics arrived they administered adrenaline "then everything went horribly wrong" following their intervention and her daughter went into "full circulatory collapse". "I knew at this point that they'd done something, given something that had caused this," she said. 9 Paloma began an alternative treatment programme which included daily coffee enemas, a strict diet and green juices Credit: Facebook 9 Kate told the court that a 'sequence of medical actions' caused her daughter's death Credit: Facebook 9 Kate has has accused paramedics of killing the Cambridge grad Kate added: "She deteriorated catastrophically upon their arrival and their intervention." Dr Anderson said Paloma received a standard adult dose of adrenaline during the cardiac arrest, and that this was acceptable even given how thin she was at the time. Paloma was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on a ventilator, and brain stem death was declared on the afternoon of July 24, 2024 after a series of nationally advised medical checks. 'Trying to conceal cause of death' Kate said the decision taken was rushed and said that the brain stem testing was not the same in the UK as it was in the US, and wanted an MRI. Intensivist and anaesthetist Dr Peter Anderson, who was on shift when Paloma died, explained: "I thought the risk of deterioration and uncontrolled death was extremely high." Dr Anderson noted that on the 999 call, Kate called out Paloma's oxygen saturation which was "critically low" at 36 then 35. He told the coroner that if Paloma's 'sats' were that low for a significant time then the brain damage was done before the paramedics arrived. Kate said: "We are deeply concerned this inquest is attempting to shift focus on the cause of death." Later she added: "We believe this to be an attempt to pervert the course of justice and conceal the cause of Paloma's death." The inquest continues. 9 Paloma received a standard adult dose of adrenaline during the cardiac arrest from the paramedics, a doctor said Credit: Facebook Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, as recommended by the NHS Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although some people may not need treatment straight away. In a few cases, if the initial cancer is very small and can be removed during a biopsy, no further treatment may be needed. If non-Hodgkin lymphoma is low grade (slow developing) and a person is well, a period of "watch and wait" is often recommended. This is because some people take many years to develop troublesome symptoms and starting treatment immediately is often felt to be unnecessary. But in other cases, chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells. If non-Hodgkin lymphoma doesn't get better with initial treatment (known as refractory lymphoma), you may have a course of chemotherapy at a stronger dose. But this intensive chemotherapy destroys your bone marrow, and can lead to the following side effects: Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea Loss of appetite Mouth ulcers Tiredness Skin rashes Hair loss Infertility, which may be temporary or permanent A stem cell or bone marrow transplant is then needed to replace the damaged bone marrow. Radiotherapy is most often used to treat early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma, where the cancer is only in one part of the body. And for some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you may have a type of medicine called a monoclonal antibody. These medicines attach themselves to both healthy and cancerous cells, and signal to the immune system to attack and kill the cells. Other potential non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatments include: Cancer growth blockers Steroid medicine Immunotherapy Source: NHS
