New Delhi, 28 November 2024: In a tragic turn of events, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the recently appointed Director-Elect of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Africa Region, has passed away while undergoing treatment in India. The loss has reverberated through global health circles, as Faustine Ndugulile was a highly respected figure in the field of public health, particularly in Africa. This article explores the life and legacy of Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the circumstances surrounding his untimely death, and the implications for the WHO’s leadership in Africa.
Ndugulile served as a member of parliament for Kigamboni Constituency in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. He was also the East African country’s health assistant minister between 2017-2020 and the information and communication minister until 2021.
He was elected as the WHO’s African director in August and was set to start his new role in February 2025, following Matshidiso Moeti who served in the role for two terms. In his acceptance speech, Ndugulile expressed a firm commitment to advancing the health and well-being of people in Africa.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed condolences on social media platform X, calling his death “devastating,” while WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus wrote that he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by his death.
