UNICEF is saddened to learn of the death in Ankara today of Professor Ihsan Dogramaci, a leader who dedicated his life to improving the rights and welfare of children.

A paediatrician by profession, Professor Dogramaci was both a man of science and of deep humanity. For the past half century, he has played a key role in global efforts to improve child survival, in particular as a staunch and vocal advocate of immunization, breastfeeding and baby- friendly hospitals.

In 1992, alongside the former Executive Director of UNICEF, he led a convoy of trucks to besieged Sarajevo to provide Bosnian children with essential supplies, and pressed for a ceasefire that allowed the distribution of medicine and clothes to children in that besieged city.

Such ceasefires are now known as Days of Tranquillity.

Professor Dogramaci served as President of UNICEF’s Executive Board from 1968 to 1970, and was Chairman and Honorary President of the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF from 1956 until his death. In 1995, UNICEF presented Professor Dogramaci with its highest honour, the Maurice Pate Award, in recognition of his tireless efforts for children around the world.

With his passing, the world’s children have lost a great champion and UNICEF has lost a steadfast friend.

UNICEF expresses its deepest condolences to his wife, Ayser, and his children Sermin, Ali and Osman.

Professor İhsan Doğramacı (April 3, 1915 – February 25, 2010) was an Iraqi Turkmen born in Erbil, Iraq, Türkmeneli then Ottoman Empire. He was a pediatric physician, an academic and an international leader of development. His father Doğramacızade Ali Pasha was the Mayor of Erbil and later a Senator in Baghdad, and his grandfather Mehmet Ali Kirdar was a Member of the Ottoman Parliament for Kirkuk. He was the founder of Bilkent University, a leading private university, in Ankara, Turkey, and he had been the first President and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees since 1985.

He was the founding President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkey (YÖK) from 1981 until 1992. He established the Hacettepe University in 1967, which is now one of the best state universities in Turkey in medicine-related areas. He also chaired the Board of Trustees in Middle East Technical University in 1965 and held the rector position in Ankara University in 1963. He was offered national political leadership positions by Cemal Gürsel that he declined. Professor İhsan Doğramacı co-founded the Assembly of the Parliament of Cultures together with Prince Hassan of Jordan and joined members from many nations in Ankara in 2004. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote and strengthen international and intercultural understanding among different cultures in the world and to enhance dialogue between their thinkers and intellectuals by means of peaceful dialogue.
He had three children. His son, Professor Ali Doğramacı is currently the Rector of Bilkent University.

Professor Doğramacı was married to Ayser and spoke Turkish, English, French, German, Arabic and Persian. He authored over 100 scientific articles, three books, six book chapters and served as the editor of four medical journals.

The vision of the Ihsan Dogramaci Erbil Foundation is to build a needed and unique school in a region which has had a troubled history.

İhsan Doğramacı, with his wife, Ayser Doğramacı, endowed their family wealth to the support of educational and medical projects. In more recent times the Founder had turned his attention to the place of his birth, Erbil.

UNICEF: He had been a member of the UNICEF Executive Board (1959–1985), and he was elected as Chairman of the Board for two terms. He had been the President of Turkish National Committee for UNICEF (1958–2003). He was a major financial charitable contributor to the Unicef co-sponsored Turkish educational community campaign "Let's Go to School, Girls".

International organisations: He was the founder Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London and has been an Honorary Scientific Advisor to the International Centre for Childhood Studies in England since 1982. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Heart International since 1981. He was the president of IPA/UNICEF/WHO/FIGO/UNFPA Task Force (1997–1998). He was a member of the Board (1970–1984) of International Children's Centre in Paris, and he had been a member of the Board of Regents of the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine since 2000.

International Pediatric Association (IPA): He had been the Honorary President of International Pediatric Association (IPA) since 1992 and was the president of IPA between 1968 and 1977, and the Executive Director between 1977 and 1993.

World Health Organisation (WHO): He signed the WHO Constitution in New York, July, 1946 (he was the last living signatory). He was the Vice President in 1976 and a member of Executive Board between 1976 and 1982. He had been a member of many child health-related programmes and groups in WHO.