As Africa continues to battle persistent health challenges, Tanzanian health expert, Prof. Mohamed Janabi has unveiled his vision for transforming healthcare on the continent.
Janabi is one of the candidates vying for the position of WHO regional director for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and has presented a bold plan aimed at addressing some of the region’s most pressing health concerns.
Speaking with journalists, Janabi outlined his key priorities, which include strengthening universal health coverage (UHC), enhancing pandemic preparedness, tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and promoting Africa’s health sovereignty. His candidacy, officially endorsed by Tanzanian president, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan comes at a critical time when Africa is grappling with rising infectious disease outbreaks and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“With over 20 years of experience in health diplomacy, clinical research and hospital leadership, Janabi has played a pivotal role in shaping Tanzania’s healthcare system while influencing global health policies,” President Hassan stated.
Janabi is currently the CEO of Muhimbili National Hospital, one of Africa’s largest hospitals, with 4,000 beds and a network of 8,000 affiliated primary and secondary health facilities. He was also the founding Executive Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, where over 2,000 advanced cardiac procedures are performed annually – reducing the need for overseas medical referrals by 95 per cent.
Beyond his leadership in hospital administration, Janabi has served as a Senior Health Advisor to two Tanzanian Presidents. He played a key role in designing the Primary Health Care Development Programme, which significantly lowered maternal mortality by 81 per cent and facilitated the training of 12,000 community health workers.
During the 2014 to 2016 Ebola epidemic, he was part of the UN High-Level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises, contributing to strategies that reshaped WHO’s pandemic preparedness framework.
Now seeking to lead WHO-AFRO, Janabi has pledged to modernize the organization by improving operational efficiency, strengthening regional collaboration, and boosting emergency preparedness. He cited his role in tackling the 2023 and 2025 Marburg virus outbreaks, where grassroots surveillance and cross-border coordination played a crucial role in containment efforts.
“Africa’s future depends on proactive health investments. We cannot afford to wait for crises before acting,” Janabi emphasised.
One of his core objectives is to reduce Africa’s dependence on external funding for healthcare. He is advocating for innovative health financing models that incorporate a blend of government funding, international aid, and private sector investments. Additionally, he intends to scale up local pharmaceutical production to curb 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 stressed, urging African governments to increase their financial contributions to WHO-AFRO.
As a renowned cardiologist and researcher, Janabi has co-led groundbreaking studies on HIV vaccine trials (TaMoVac), TB/HIV co-infection research, and antimicrobial resistance. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to the book “Your Health and Lifestyle” (2024).
He is also a strong advocate for climate-resilient health systems, pushing for early warning mechanisms to anticipate climate-induced disease outbreaks.
“The health risks from climate change must be integrated into policy planning. Strengthening our health infrastructure is non-negotiable,” he asserted.
His campaign for the WHO-AFRO position follows the untimely death of regional director-elect, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile in November 2024. In response, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa initiated an expedited election process, calling for nominations by February 28, 2025.
A live candidates’ forum is scheduled for April 2, 2025, ahead of the official in-person election in Geneva on May 18, 2025. The elected candidate will serve a five-year term, with eligibility for one reappointment.
WHO director-general, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus recently announced the five contenders for the position:
Dr. N’da Konan Michel Yao (Côte d’Ivoire)
Dr. Dramé Mohammed Lamine (Guinea)
Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo (Niger)
Prof. Mohamed Yakub Janabi (Tanzania)
Prof. Mijiyawa Moustafa (Togo)
If elected, Janabi will replace Ndugulile, who was elected in August 2024 but passed away while receiving treatment in India.
In the interim, former director-general of Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has been appointed acting WHO-AFRO regional director.
With the WHO-AFRO election fast approaching, member states must weigh the candidates’ expertise, leadership and vision for transforming Africa’s health landscape.
