Another Tanzanian candidate has managed to bag in the post of new director of the World Health Organization for African Region beating other four contestants who vied for the slot
Professor Mohammed Janabi fills in the WHO slot left vacant by the other winning candidate, Dr Faustine Ndugulile who died in November 2024, shortly after winning the same position.
Dr Janabi’s selection was announced at the threshold of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme of ‘One World for Health.’
Prior to the election Janabi, from the Muhimbili National Health Center in Dar-es-salaam tabled his proposed seven priorities before the Ministers of Health from the regional member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Janabi who until recently, was also serving as the presidential advisor in matters of health in Tanzania, seems to have convinced the ministers who inked his endorsement as the Regional Director of WHO for Africa.
In Tanzania, Janabi is usually known for his public nutrition lectures on what to eat and ‘what-not-to-eat!’
The WHO 2025 Health Assembly, on the other hand, has brought together high-level country representatives and other stakeholders to address health challenges.
This year’s gathering comes at a pivotal moment for global health, as Member States confront emerging threats and major shifts in the landscape for global health and international development.
A highly anticipated moment of the 78th World Health Assembly is the consideration of the Pandemic Agreement, a landmark proposal developed over three years of intense negotiations by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, composed of all WHO Member States.
The adoption of the agreement is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to safeguard the world from a repeat of the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal will be the second ever presented for approval under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, which gives Member States the authority to reach agreements on global health.
“This year’s World Health Assembly will be truly historic with countries, after 3 years of negotiations, considering for adoption the first global compact to better protect people from pandemics,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“The Pandemic Agreement can make the world safer by boosting collaboration among countries fairly in the preparedness, prevention and response to pandemics.”