A police investigation is underway following the death of Lisa Véron, 30, who died as a result of a violent act on the evening of 10 January in Harare, Zimbabwe. The loss of such a remarkable and wonderful person has deeply shocked all her colleagues.
Lisa joined WHO in April 2000, initially working in Geneva for the Health Promotion department. To strengthen her public health background, she then spent two years working for a Geneva-based organization, developing and managing various projects related to infertility.
Her commitment to global health brought her back to WHO at the start of 2002, when she was appointed as a technical officer for the Tuberculosis Strategy and Operations team of the Stop TB Department.
Her energies were focused on expanding the TB strategy, DOTS, in the world's poorest countries. The success of the 4th DOTS Expansion Working Group meeting in 2003 was largely due to her outstanding ability to motivate and engage with all those around her.
Lisa's invaluable professional and personal skills were instantly recognisable. Even in the most trying and testing of situations, she had the strength to remain calm and competent. Her abilities clearly identified her as a future leader in global TB control. Encouraged by her desire to learn and gain experiences, Stop TB invested in her, and gave her the chance of new opportunities to work at the WHO African Regional Office in Harare, Zimbabwe, in its TB unit.
She arrived in Harare in August 2004. In what sadly has turned out to be a short period of time, her impact on the programme in Africa, and the people and patients she was closely involved with, will be felt for many years.
Our thoughts are now with Lisa's husband and her family. She will be missed by all who knew her, but remembered for her radiance, her generosity and her achievements.
Mario Raviglione
Director, Stop TB Department, WHO
Requests from media for further information should be directed to Christine McNab in the DGO Media and Communications office (41 22 791 4688).