Excellence, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire de la République Démocratique du Congo,
Excellence et l'Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire de l'Union africaine,
My dear sister Aissata,
Esteemed partners and friends,
Mesdames et Messieurs, en vos rangs, grades et qualités,
Maman Rose,

Today, we honour a giant.

Dikembe Mutombo was known to the world as a legendary athlete - a champion on the basketball court. But for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to the women and girls whose lives he touched, he was something greater than that. He was a healer, a bridge, and a man of profound humanity. I had the privilege of knowing Dikembe Mutombo. His remarkable legacy holds a special place in my heart.

Having served in the DRC, I have seen firsthand the power of his visionary leadership. I had the privilege of partnering with Dikembe. Together, we worked to confront one of the most devastating, yet preventable tragedies affecting women - obstetric fistula. Through this partnership, surgeons were brought to communities that had long been forgotten. Lives were restored. Women who lived in pain, isolation and silence were given back their dignity, their health and their future.

Dikembe understood something very deeply: that true greatness is measured not by what you achieve for yourself, but by what you do for others. He used his global voice, his credibility, and his love for his country to open doors -- not for recognition, but for meaningful results. He believed that African women deserved the same quality of care, the same respect, and the same chance at life as women anywhere in the world. His partnership with the United Nations Population Fund was not symbolic, it was meaningful, operational, and lifesaving. It showed what is possible when influence meets purpose, and when compassion is translated into action.

I recall walking with him in the Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital to check on the new mothers and new babies, to check on the health nd recovery of the women who had faced incredible hardship while giving birth.

Dikembe understood from a relatively young age that his legacy was to be built not just on a basketball court, but in the lives and communities that he lifted up. The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital that he founded in Kinshasa stands as a symbol of the hope that he brought to the Congolese people by upholding their right to health.

The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital has become a sanctuary of hope. UNFPA is proud of our work with the hospital, which ensures that women from Kinshasa and surrounding areas receive the quality care they deserve.

Distinguished delegates,

Health doesn't exist in a vacuum - it requires education and opportunity. Like 'Mount Mutombo', we want our youth to stand tall.

This is why we partnered with his Foundation not only in saving lives, but to ensure that top-notch surgeons that we brought to the DRC could share their knowledge with young medical professionals from the DRC. When young people are empowered with the health and knowledge to chart their own future, they can realize their full potential, reach the pinnacle of their fields, and give back to the communities that raised them.

Dikembe Mutombo's life proves that we can make a profound difference by reaching back to pull up others with us.

His hospital was not just made with bricks and mortar; it was made with glimmering hope for a better future for his people. May his legacy live on in every mother who survives childbirth, and every child who grows up healthy and empowered.

In Africa, it is said that if you inherit a mountain, you must climb it. We have collectively inherited the great legacy of Mount Mutombo. Let us draw inspiration from it as we spread hope, overcome challenges and scale that mountain - together.

To Susan from the Foundation, to Doctor Kanda, To Professor Parham, to all of the people who work at the hospital - your work matters.

Our dear Dikembe is probably smiling and happy where he is. To his amazing wife, my dearest Rose, to the children - I can see one right in front of me - you ought to be proud as the work and legacy of your beloved husband and father changes people's lives every day. The legend lives on. May he rest in eternal peace.

I was deeply moved to attend his memorial service in Atlanta. It was a moment of reflection, not only on his extraordinary life, but on the enduring impact he leaves behind. The outpouring of love reminded us that Dikembe belongs to the world, but his heart never left Africa. His legacy lives on in every woman who walks again without pain. In every surgeon trained, in every life saved, in every partnership built on dignity, equity and justice.

At UNFPA, we carry this legacy forward, committed to ending preventable maternal suffering, standing with women and girls, and honouring Dikembe Mutombo not only in words, but in continued action. Dikembe often said, "If you don't care about your community, you are not a leader." He cared deeply, he led with humilty, and he changed lives. May his legacy continue to inspire us to serve boldly, compassionately, and together.

Matondo minge.