Bart Jacobs

Health development expert. He was born in Vilvoorde, Belgium, on Feb 6, 1967, and died after a motorcycle accident Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan 15, 2021, aged 53 years. Bart Jacobs's areas of expertise encompassed social health policy, protection, financing for universal coverage. “He always keen that his work should be evidence based”, says Valeria de Oliveira Cruz, regional adviser governance at the WHO Country Office India Delhi. did lot research to bring knowledge from outside…and documented what he doing so it could shared with others.” The image begins emerge is an academic. And it's reinforced by comment Franz von Roenne, sometime colleague now head Germany's GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) Social Protection Programme Pakistan. passionate writer papers, coauthors who were authorities their field.” But although Jacobs this way academically minded, Roenne adds not academic profession. saw himself, use own description, as specialist “putting theory into practice, turning best practices policy”. started out career diploma clinical chemistry. “After formal studies behaved bit like adventurer”, Roenne. went off do interesting projects remote locations.” These comprised variety posts non-governmental organisations government agencies, working services patients HIV/AIDS tuberculosis countries included Armenia, Philippines, Russia, Tanzania, Uganda. This lasted 1989 2000, during which time took year 1996 MSc economic University Swansea UK. In subsequent years complete management London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and, 2011, PhD Antwerp's Institute Medicine. introduction southeast Asia, where spend rest career, came 2000 when moved Cambodia become Public Co-ordinator Maung Russay District northwest country. followed French agency Planète Enfants Développement Swiss Red Cross, two stints protection Laos, then, 2013, return its policy adviser. Adelio Fernandes Antunes, team leader technical cooperation SOCIEUX+, got know they together Penh. describes instrumental developing Cambodian access poor services, community funding, making accountable reality. very realistic person sense knowing can cannot done”, Antunes. “This made him excellent researcher.” committed people culture Antunes adds. genuinely poverty hardship region.” Cruz praises skills, smile, positive attitude. easy get along with…as one colleagues put it, entered room would kind energy, all sudden world seem lighter brighter…He make sure everyone behind objectives we towards.” She also admired skills. only smart, had broad base financing. place within context systems development, development.” met wife Sithan family there. believes felt home but verge another big change. “He'd accepted new job Geneva…He talked us being able see each other sometimes.” be. Circumstances intervened road traffic led tragic death. leaves wife, Sithan, children, Jj Jaico.