New Regional Director Dr Faustine Ndugulile reveals his plans for the continent

Dr Faustine Ndugulile takes over as WHO Regional Director for Africa, poised to tackle health challenges with a robust plan to transform access to care on the continent.

Dr. Faustine Englebert Ndugulile, former Minister of Health of Tanzania, has been appointed to succeed Dr. Matshidiso Moeti as Regional Director for Africa of the World Health Organization (WHO). With a clear vision and ambitious targets, he is preparing to tackle many of the continent’s health challenges. But what is his plan to transform health in Africa?

The Journey of a Visionary Leader

Dr Faustine Ndugulile is no stranger to Africa’s health challenges. As a former board member of the International AIDS Society, he has worked tirelessly to improve health on the continent. His experience and dedication earned him the trust of Member States during the 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

For Dr. Ndugule, the main obstacle to health progress in Africa is the lack of political will. In a recent interview, he called for “transformational leadership” to overcome current challenges. He called for greater political mobilization to ensure better access to healthcare and improve universal health coverage on the continent.

Access to care, epidemics and local production

Dr. Ndugulile’s plan is structured around four main priorities. First, he wants to accelerate access to healthcare by filling gaps in universal health coverage. Next, it focuses on learning lessons from the COVID-19 crisis to prepare for future pandemics. Another priority is strengthening local production capacity for vaccines and essential health products. Finally, it wants to make WHO regional offices more responsive, efficient, transparent and accountable.

Dr. Ndugule is aware that his ambitions require solid funding. He advocates for increased domestic investment in the health sector and greater mobilization of the private sector. Convincing political leaders to invest more in health is another priority for him. It also works to strengthen the role of the private sector in health investment.

Traditional medicine and human resources for health

Recognizing the importance of African ancestral practices, Dr. Ndugule recommends that traditional medicine be integrated into modern health systems. It requires better research and rigorous documentation to ensure its safety and effectiveness. In addition, it intends to address challenges related to human resources for health by proposing solutions that are appropriate for each country.

Dr. Ndugule urged donor countries such as the United States to continue to support health efforts in Africa. However, he stressed the importance of the continent strengthening its own health financing. I commit to working with you and believe that together we can build a healthier Africa«, He declared.