President Samia, stakeholders congratulate Dr Ndugulile on WHO position 

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has congratulated Dr Faustine Ndugulile on his election as the Regional Director of World Health Organisation (WHO) for the African Region.

The Head of State expressed her confidence in Dr Ndugulile saying his expertise in the health sector will enable Africa to have a vital voice on the global stage in tackling health challenges.

“Heartfelt congratulations to Dr Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile for being elected the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa. You have made our country proud and our continent will greatly benefit from your work,” Dr Samia wrote on her X account on Tuesday.

She added: “You have my best wishes,”

Dr Ndugulile is a country’s former deputy health minister and the incumbent Kigamboni Member of Parliament in Dar es Salaam.

He served as a Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender and Elderly between 2017 and 2020.

Government’s Chief Spokesperson and Director of Tanzania Information Services (MAELEZO), Mr Thobias Makoba also extended congratulations to Dr Ndugulile saying his victory means a lot to Tanzania and Africa at large.

Mr Makoba was speaking yesterday during the second Chief Executives Officers (CEO) forum in Arusha.

He said Dr Ndugulile’s victory will further strengthen the country’s influence at global stages in the matter of health development.

Mr Makoba commended President Samia for endorsing Dr Ndugulile as a credible candidate for the WHO Africa Region’s director post.

“We appreciate Dr Ndugulile for the significant milestone and commend you for bringing the gift to Tanzania and Africa in the health sector,” he said.

For his part, Minister of State in the President Office (Planning and Investment), Professor Kitila Mkumbo said Dr Ndugulile’s victory reflects the six phase government’s success on opening the country by deepening diplomatic relations with other countries worldwide.

Furthermore, he attributed the country’s strengthened diplomatic relation to President Dr Samia’s 4Rs philosophy which stands for Resilience, Reconciliation, Rebuilding and Resilience that altogether elevate Tanzania’s global reputation to a new height.

“It is victory of Dr Ndugulile and Tanzania diplomacy at the international stage,” Prof Mkumbo said.

“The government’s concerted efforts to rally regional support have been pivotal.”

Reacting on the victory, the Medical Association of Tanzania’s (MAT) President Dr Deus Ndilanha said he was optimistic Dr Ndugulile can fully rollout the universal health coverage and heighten health diplomacy in the continent.

It should be remembered that during the launching ceremony of the WHO Africa Regional Candidature Campaign, Dr Ndugulile mentioned among others universal health coverage and mobilisation of collective efforts against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including diabetes and cancers as his priority area when elected.

Dr Ndilanha said that Dr Ndugulile’s universal health coverage agenda will uplift health services accessibility in the continent where up to date large portion of its citizens fail to afford medical care due to economic hardship.

Dr Ndilanha, who is also the Consultant Physician at the Muhimbili National Hospital, said Dr Ndugulile can accomplish the universal health coverage’s vision by mobilising support from the global medical body.

He said he believes that Dr Ndugulile is going to advocate the universal health coverage agenda with reference to Tanzania which has already approved the Universal Health Coverage Bill in to law.

Dr Ndugulile takes the reins from Dr Matshidiso Moetio of Botswana, who has served two five-year terms at the helm.

African Member States voted to nominate Dr Ndugulile during the Seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

Other candidates were Dr Boureima Hama Sambo from Niger, Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall of Senegal and Dr Richard Mihigo from Rwanda.

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Dr Ndugulile’s nomination will be submitted for appointment during the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board, which takes place in February 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr Ndugulile the first Tanzanian to serve as Regional Director of WHO for the African Region expressed commitment to advancing health for the people of the region.

“I’m truly honoured and humbled to be elected to the position of WHO Regional Director for Africa. I thank Member States for the trust shown in me. I promise to work with you and I believe that together we can build a healthier Africa,” Dr Ndugulile said.

Dr Ndugulile is a Medical Doctor specialised in Public Health and Medical Microbiology.