Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the incoming regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa, has passed away at the age of 55. Ndugulile, a medical doctor and a former Tanzanian lawmaker, died on Wednesday morning in India while undergoing treatment. The Tanzanian speaker of parliament confirmed the news of his death.
Ndugulile had recently been elected to the prestigious WHO position in August 2024, where he was set to take over from Botswana’s Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who had served two terms as regional head. Dr. Ndugulile was due to assume the role in February 2025, just three months after his election.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his shock and deep sadness at the news, acknowledging the significant loss to public health. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu also sent her condolences to Ndugulile’s family.
The exact cause of his death has not been disclosed, though he had been receiving treatment in India.
Ndugulile’s career was marked by his significant contributions to both politics and public health in Tanzania. A member of parliament for the Kigamboni constituency in Dar es Salaam, Ndugulile had held key positions in the Tanzanian government, including deputy health minister and later, minister for communications. His appointment as health minister in 2017 was a high point in his public service career.
However, his tenure in the health ministry was notably marked by his open disagreements with then-President John Magufuli during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ndugulile, who advocated for scientifically proven methods to combat the virus, clashed with Magufuli, who downplayed the pandemic and rejected global health measures, including the use of face masks and vaccines. Ndugulile’s refusal to support traditional remedies for Covid, such as steam inhalation, led to his sacking from the ministry in May 2020, though he was later appointed to a different ministerial role.
Before entering politics in 2010, Ndugulile worked in public health, including serving as the founding program manager of the National Blood Transfusion Services in 2006. He also had experience working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in South Africa, further bolstering his credentials for the WHO position.
In his statement after his election to the WHO role, Ndugulile had expressed a strong commitment to improving health across Africa. He promised to collaborate with stakeholders to build a healthier continent.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the outgoing WHO Africa director, described Ndugulile’s untimely death as an “immense loss,” adding that his passing marks the first time a WHO regional director-elect has died before taking office.
With the loss of Ndugulile, the process of selecting a new WHO Africa director will begin, though it is a lengthy and complex political procedure.
SOURCE: BBC
Join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakDz4u9RZATWh53yC1a
