As Africa grapples with persistent health challenges, Tanzanian health expert, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, has unveiled his vision for transforming healthcare on the continent.
Janabi, who is vying for the position of WHO Regional Director for Africa (WHO-AFRO), spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
He outlined his plan to strengthen universal health coverage (UHC), enhance pandemic preparedness, combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote Africa’s health sovereignty.
Janabi pledged to modernise WHO-AFRO by improving operational efficiency, regional collaboration, and emergency preparedness.
“My experience in responding to the 2023 and 2025 Marburg virus outbreaks through grassroots surveillance and cross-border coordination.
underscores commitment to Africa-led solutions for disease containment.
“Africa’s future depends on proactive health investments. We can not afford to wait for crises before acting,” he said
He emphasised the need for a bottom-up approach to healthcare, prioritising primary healthcare and prevention over late-stage interventions.
He said that one of the major pillars of his vision was to reduce Africa’s dependency on external funding for healthcare.
He advocated for innovative health financing models and public-private partnerships for healthcare infrastructure.
The expert said that he would work to blend financing mechanisms combining government funds, international aid, and private investments.
He said that there would be an increase in investment in local pharmaceutical production to reduce reliance on imported vaccines and essential medicines.
“If WHO-AFRO were a company, Africans would be minority shareholders.
“We must take ownership of our health agenda,” he said.
He urged African governments to increase their financial contributions to the organisation.
NAN reports that Janabi’s candidacy, endorsed by Tanzanian President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, comes at a time when Africa faces critical health crises.
The crises range from emerging infectious diseases to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
He told NAN that he was currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Muhimbili National Hospital, one of Africa’s largest hospitals, with 4,000 beds and 8,000 affiliated primary and secondary health facilities.
He said that he was also the founding Executive Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, which performs over 2,000 advanced cardiac procedures annually, reducing the need for overseas referrals by 95 per cent.
“Beyond hospital leadership, I have served as a Senior Health Advisor to two Tanzanian Presidents and played a key role in the Primary Health Care Development Programme.
This contributed to an 81 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and the training of 12,000 community health workers.
“My contributions extend beyond Tanzania.
“I was part of the UN panel on the Global Response to Health Crises during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, where I was recommended to help shape WHO’s future pandemic preparedness strategies,” he said.
As a renowned cardiologist and researcher, he said that he had co-led groundbreaking studies on HIV vaccine trials (TaMoVac), TB/HIV co-infection research, and antimicrobial resistance.
With a career spanning clinical medicine, policy advising, and international health diplomacy, Janabi said that that his leadership would usher in a new era for WHO-AFRO that prioritised African-led solutions to African health challenges.
“The decisions we make in 2025 will shape the health future of millions.
“It is time for Africa to step forward with confidence and resilience,” he said.
NAN reports that erstwhileerstwhile Regional Director-elect, Dr Faustine Ndugulile, died died died in November 2024.
The WHO Regional Committee for Africa,tthusss, initiated an accelerated procedure to elect a new leader for its African office.
In a virtual special session held on 14 January 2025, the committee decided on an expedited process, inviting Member States to submit nominations by 28 February 2025.
A live candidates’ forum is scheduled for 2 April 2025, ahead of an in-person special session in Geneva on 18 May 2025, where the next Regional Director will be nominated by secret ballot.
The elected candidate will then be formally appointed by the WHO Executive Board for a five-year term, with eligibility for one reappointment.
Janabi Among Five Candidates for the WHO-AFRO Position.
The other candidates are Dr N’da Konan Michel Yao (Côte d’Ivoire), Dr Dramé Mohammed Lamine (Guinea), Dr Boureima Hama Sambo (Niger) and Prof. Mijiyawa Moustafa (Togo).
Janabi was selected after the Tanzanian government reviewed the credentials of five potential candidates.
If elected, he will replace Ndugulile while receiving medical treatment in India.
In the interim, Ghebreyesus has appointed Nigeria’s Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as the acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Ihekweazu, a public health expert, is currently WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems.
With the upcoming WHO-AFRO election scheduled for May 18, member-states will have to weigh the candidates’ expertise, leadership experience, and vision for transforming Africa’s health systems. (NAN)
