Incoming WHO Regional Director for Africa Dies at 55

By Iyojo Ameh

Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, recently elected as the incoming WHO Regional Director for Africa, has passed away at the age of 55. He died in India, where he was undergoing medical treatment.

Tanzania’s Parliament Speaker, Tulia Ackson, confirmed the news on Wednesday but did not disclose details about his illness. She noted that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.

Dr. Ndugulile was elected to succeed Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who served as the WHO Afro Director for ten years. His appointment was confirmed during the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in August 2024. His tenure was scheduled to commence in February 2025.

Before his election to the WHO position, Ndugulile had a distinguished career in both politics and public health.

He represented the Kigamboni constituency in Dar es Salaam as a legislator and held several key governmental positions, including deputy minister for health and communications minister.

He was appointed to the health ministry position in 2017 and stayed there until Magufuli sacked him in May 2020, at the height of the coronavirus epidemic.

No reason was given for his sacking, although media reports suggested that it was related to his stance on the fight against coronavirus in the country, which went against the president’s views.

Magufuli was a vehement coronavirus sceptic and refused to put in place measures that the rest of the world had taken to control the spread of the virus, such as wearing face masks.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences on X (formerly Twitter): “I have received with great sadness the news of the passing of Honourable Dr. Faustine Ndugulile. His death is a significant loss, not only to the people of Kigamboni but to all Tanzanians.”

Several Tanzanian legislators also posted on X, saying Ndugulile was “a humble man.”

Godbless Lema, a former opposition legislator, wrote: “When in parliament, Ndugulile wasn’t as harsh as his colleagues in the ruling party.”

WHO Regional Directors have a five-year term and are eligible for reappointment only once.