Dr. Ndugulile was a member of parliament for the Kigamboni Constituency in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
Published 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 30, 2024
The World Health Organization’s regional director-elect for Africa died while receiving medical treatment in India, Tanzania’s parliament speaker said Wednesday.
According to Speaker Tulia Ackson, plans were underway to repatriate the remains of Tanzanian Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, 55, and that she would reveal the funeral arrangements later. She did not reveal Ndugulile’s illness.
Dr. Ndugulile served as a member of parliament for the Kigamboni Constituency in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. He was also the East African country’s health assistant minister between 2017 and 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 Dr. 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.
WHO regional directors have a five-year term and are eligible for reappointment once after the first term.
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