We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Hernán Sanhueza, a dedicated leader in the global fight for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Hernán served as Regional Director of IPPF’s Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF-WHR), following in the footsteps of Dr Benjamin Viel. His leadership was marked by an unwavering commitment to advancing family planning and reproductive healthcare across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1935, Hernán earned his medical degree in 1961 before completing an MSc in Medical Demography at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 1971. He later migrated to the United States, where he became Medical Director of IPPF-WHR in 1972. By 1978, he had stepped into the role of Regional Director, overseeing a rapid expansion of family planning programmes that transformed access to reproductive healthcare across the region.
Hernán’s deep understanding of the political landscape and his strategic leadership helped strengthen IPPF’s partnerships and ensure that family planning remained a priority despite growing opposition. His tenure came to an end in 2002, following the devastating impact of President George W. Bush’s reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule—a policy that forced many reproductive health organisations, including IPPF, to make impossible choices.
Hernán’s legacy is one of resilience, progress, and an unwavering belief in the right of all people to access reproductive healthcare. We honour his contributions and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
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