Dr. Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile, who was slated to be the next regional director for the World Health Organization’s Africa office, unexpectedly died on Wednesday while receiving medical treatment in India.
Ndugulile, a career politician from Tanzania, was elected to serve in this role by African health ministers in August during their annual convening in Brazzaville. It’s a five-year term, which can be served twice.
He was set to replace Dr. Matshidiso Moeti in February, who will have served in this role for two terms. Moeti wrote that she was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the news of his passing, calling it “an immense loss.”