This lady died seventy years ago, however her cells are still saving countless lives - browse full story here

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus worthy the late Henrietta Lacks with a WHO Director-General' award, recognizing the world-changing inheritance of this African-American girl who died of cervical cancer, seventy years ago, on four October, 1951. whereas she wanted treatment, analysisers took biopsies from Lacks' body while not her data or consent. Her cells became the primary "immortal" cell line, and have allowed for innumerable scientific breakthroughs love the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the poliomyelitis vaccine, medicine for HIV and cancers, and most recently, essential COVID-19 research.

Shockingly, the world scientific community once hid Henrietta Lacks' race and her real story, a historic wrong that today' recognition seeks to heal, per a WHO release.

Shockingly, the worldwide scientific community once hid Henrietta Lacks' race and her real story, a historic wrong that today' recognition seeks to heal, in step with a WHO release.

In honouring Henrietta Lacks, WHO acknowledges the importance of reckoning with past scientific injustices, and advancing racial equity in health and science," aforesaid Dr Tedros. "It' conjointly a chance to acknowledge ladies - notably women of color - who have created unimaginable however typically unseen contributions to medical science." The award was received at the WHO workplace in Geneva by Lawrence Lacks, Lacks' 87-year-old son. he's one in all the last living relatives who in person knew her. Lacks was in the middle of many of Henrietta Lacks' grandchildren, great-grand children, and alternative family members.