MWE Correspondent
Tanzania’s distinguished cardiologist and health leader, Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has been nominated as the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
The decision followed a unanimous vote by the WHO Regional Committee for Africa during a high-level meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
The announcement was met with cheers from the Tanzanian delegation and broad support across the continent. The nomination now awaits formal confirmation by the WHO Executive Board, expected to convene later this month. Once confirmed, Prof Janabi will serve a term of five years and eight months.
Janabi, known for his decades of service in clinical medicine and public health policy, delivered a compelling vision for the future of African health systems. He introduced a seven-pillar agenda designed to enhance healthcare delivery across the region, emphasizing the importance of universal health coverage, maternal and child health, and the integration of digital health technologies.
A key component of his message was a strong call to reduce overdependence on earmarked donor funding, which often limits flexibility in budget allocation. Instead, Prof Janabi urged countries across Africa to increase domestic health financing and build sustainable partnerships that prioritize long-term impact.
“Our future depends on how we choose to lead today,” Prof Janabi told the committee. “We need to move away from fragmented, donor-driven models and instead invest in homegrown, resilient systems that reflect our regional priorities.”
His remarks also underlined the necessity of public-private partnerships and stronger intra-African cooperation to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services for all citizens.
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Before this nomination, Prof Janabi served as the Executive Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), a state-of-the-art hospital that has drastically reduced the need for Tanzanians to seek cardiac treatment abroad. He has also held senior advisory roles in the Tanzanian government under both President Jakaya Kikwete and current President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Prof Janabi on his nomination, expressing optimism about his leadership at a time when Africa continues to face complex health challenges ranging from noncommunicable diseases to emerging pandemics and the health impacts of climate change.
If confirmed, Prof Janabi will become the first Tanzanian to serve in the influential role of WHO Regional Director for Africa. His leadership is expected to usher in a renewed era of collaboration, innovation, and homegrown solutions for the continent’s healthcare systems.
