Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
TANZANIAN President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Special Envoy, Ambassador Thabit Mahmoud Kombo, has paid a courtesy call on SADC Chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa to introduce Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, who is Tanzania’s candidate for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa position.
A seasoned diplomat and medical professional, Professor Janabi is one of the several candidates vying for the post, which also includes Dr N’da Konan Michel Yao from Côte d’Ivoire, Dr Dramé Mohammed Lamine from Guinea, and Dr Boureima Hama Sambo from Niger.
Emerging from a closed door meeting with President Mnangagwa, Ambassador Kombo, who is also Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East Africa, disclosed the scope of their discussions.
“I came with a candidate that will be running for the World Health Organisation Director for the Afro region. We lost the previous one who won from Tanzania, Dr Faustine Ndugulile just before starting his term as Afro Director for the World Health Organisation for Africa region, and because of the sudden loss, we have put in another candidate.
“Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi has already been endorsed by the SADC region as our sole SADC candidate for all the 16 countries.
“He is a seasoned diplomat and a seasoned medical professional. He is the top cardiologist in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and also has been a leader of the Jakaya Kikwete, a cardiac institute in Dar es Salaam for quite some time. He held several positions in our state house and he is currently the very senior advisor on all the health matters to Her Excellency, Dr Samia Hassan,” Ambassador Kombo said.
If elected into office as WHO Regional Director, Professor Janabi says he aims to prioritise transformative changes, focusing on primary healthcare and universal health coverage.
“Besides being a cardiologist, I am a public health specialist. I was a senior advisor to President Kikwete for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015, as an advisor on health policies and nutrition. I am senior advisor to the current President, Dr Hassan on health matters and policy and nutrition.
“I am the CEO of Mwimbiri National Hospital, the largest hospital in Tanzania with 2 400 beds, 4 000 staff.
“We are all aware of the geopolitical tension with the donors in WHO. You can look at it as a challenge, or an opportunity. I look at it as an opportunity for the Afro region, which has 47 countries. I think it’s high time we should think of being independent in managing our health matters because African problems are supposed to be solved by Africans ourselves,” he said.
Professor Janabi’s candidacy is particularly significant, given the sudden passing of Dr Faustine Ndugulile, the previous Regional Director-elect, in November 2024.
The WHO Regional Committee for Africa has since decided on an accelerated procedure to nominate and appoint a new Regional Director, with a Virtual Live Candidates’ Forum scheduled for the 2nd of next month.
