Shock Death of WHO Africa Regional Director-Elect

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

Dr Faustine Ndugulile, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director-elect for Africa, has died while receiving medical treatment in India, Tanzania’s parliament speaker announced on Wednesday.

Dr Faustine Ndugulile (centre) flanked by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, current WHO Africa director, and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus after his election in August.

Ndugulile, aged 55, was due to assume his position as the next leader of WHO Africa in February 

No reasons were given for his death, which has been met with shock and sadness by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, WHO regions and the Africa CDC.

Ndugulile, a former deputy health minister and ICT minister in his country, has represented the Kigamboni constituency in Dar Es Salaam as a Member of Parliament since 2010 and chaired the country’s parliamentary health committee.

He served as deputy health minister under former President John Magufuli, who denied the existence of COVID-19. However, Ndugulile publicly urged Tanzanians to protect themselves against the disease and this may have cost him his position, according to Tanzanian news outlet The Chanzo Initiative.

Magufuli fired Ndugulile as deputy health minister in May 2020 during the height of COVID-19. Magufuli died in March 2021 aged 61, amid rumours that he had been infected with COVID-19.

Ndugulile was also vice-chair of the global Inter-Parliamentary Union’s advisory group on health. 

Aside from a medical degree, 55-year-old Ndugulile had a Masters degree in public health and a law degree. 

Ndugulile secured 25 of the 46 votes for regional director at the WHO Africa regional conference in the Republic of Congo in August, defeating Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall (proposed by Senegal), Dr Richard Mihigo (proposed by Rwanda) and Dr Boureima Hama Sambo (proposed by Niger). 

In his CV, Ndugulile lists his notable achievements, including “championing the passage of the Universal Health Insurance Bill in 2023, advocating for the implementation of an integrated and coordinated community health worker program and successfully advocating for the ratification of the African Medicine Agency (AMA) convention”.

Describing himself as a “technocrat, politician and policy maker”, Ndugulile has promised to “prioritise strengthening of WHO country offices to ensure timely, relevant, optimal and effective support to the member states”.

He was due to succeed Botswana’s Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who served as WHO Africa director for two terms.