Dr Faustine Ndugulile, the incoming regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa, has passed away at the age of 55. He was elected to the position in August this year and was due to assume office in February next year.
Dr Faustine Ndugulile: A Distinguished Career in Politics and Public Health Cut Short
Dr Faustine Ndugulile, the incoming regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa, has passed away at the age of 55. He was elected to the position in August this year and was due to assume office in February next year.
Key Facts:
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Dr Faustine Ndugulile was the incoming regional director of the WHO in Africa.
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He died at the age of 55 while undergoing treatment in India.
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He was elected to the position in August this year and was due to assume office in February next year.
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He had a distinguished career in both politics and public health, serving as deputy minister for health and communications minister.
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His death has been described as an “immense loss” by the outgoing Africa director.
Dr Ndugulile had a remarkable career, having served as deputy minister for health and communications minister in Tanzania. He was appointed to the health ministry position in 2017 and stayed there until President John 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.
Before his election to the WHO position, Dr Ndugulile had worked at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in South Africa. Tanzania proposed him for the WHO post earlier this year, citing his experience and commitment to global health. After his election in August, he had expressed commitment to advancing health in the continent.
The outgoing Africa director, Dr Moeti, has described Dr Ndugulile’s death as an “immense loss”. It is the first time a WHO regional director-elect has died before assuming office. The political process of electing another director is a long and complex one.
Dr Ndugulile was a medical doctor and a lawmaker who had served as deputy health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 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.
According to reports, Dr Ndugulile died on Wednesday morning in India while undergoing treatment. The reasons for his treatment have not been disclosed.
