By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Tanzanian national elected as African regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) has passed away in India while undergoing treatment, Speaker of Tanzanian Parliament said.
Dr Faustine Ndugulile who died on Wednesday morning at 55 was elected into the position three months ago.
Elected in August to succeed Botswana’s Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who has served two five-year terms, Ndugulile was due to assume office February, 2025.
A lawmaker and a medical doctor, Ndugulile was known for having stood up to President John Magufuli at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when he served as deputy health minister.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by Ndugulile’s death.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu also sent her condolences to the family of the deceased lawmaker.
The ailment for which he was undergoing treatment was not disclosed.
Before his election as WHO regional director, Ndugulile had a distinguished career in both politics and public health.
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.
He was appointed to the health ministry position in 2017 and stayed there until Magufuli sacked him in May 2020, at the height of the coronavirus epidemic.
He had also 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.
