Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the incoming WHO Africa Regional Director, has died at 55 in India while undergoing treatment. Elected in August, the Tanzanian lawmaker and medical doctor was set to assume office in February 2025, succeeding Botswana’s Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.
Known for his integrity, Dr. Ndugulile gained recognition as Tanzania’s deputy health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for science-based measures despite resistance from then-President John Magufuli. His dismissal in 2020 was widely linked to his stance on pandemic management.
A respected health advocate, Dr. Ndugulile spearheaded Tanzania’s National Blood Transfusion Services and held leadership roles in public health and politics. His death is the first of a WHO regional director-elect before assuming office.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan have expressed condolences, calling his passing a significant loss to global health.
