Africa has a new doctor in the house—and he’s not just treating patients anymore. He’s prescribing policy. As of July 1, 2025, Professor Mohamed Janabi, a seasoned Tanzanian cardiologist and hospital administrator, has taken the reins as WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, one of the most influential health roles on the continent.
Janabi’s appointment signals both continuity and change. On one hand, he inherits a region still reeling from the aftershocks of COVID-19, Ebola, mpox, and countless silent crises in maternal mortality, nutrition, and health financing. On the other hand, he brings with him a pragmatic, country-level perspective drawn from years leading one of East Africa’s most respected hospitals: the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
He’s a doctor who has heard the beeping ICU machines, negotiated power outages mid-surgery, and begged for budget lines that don’t get slashed. Now he has a new kind of patient—47 African countries, each with its own epidemiological chart, political challenges, and chronic underfunding.
His first words after assuming office were about “resilience, preparedness, and access.” That’s not just PR-speak. Africa’s health systems have been under siege from everything from climate-fueled epidemics to supply chain failures. Janabi is stepping into a continent where health workers are still grossly underpaid, rural clinics lack running water, and vaccines expire before they arrive.
And the timing is unforgiving.
Mpox is surging again, with thousands of new cases from the DRC to Nigeria. Cholera outbreaks in southern Africa have killed hundreds this year. Malaria remains a continent-wide menace. Add to that the rising rates of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease—areas Janabi knows intimately—and you get the makings of a complex, multidimensional health crisis.
But Janabi may just be the man for the job. Unlike some previous appointees who came up through bureaucratic ladders, he is a front-line physician with policy chops. He led successful reforms at Muhimbili, modernized Tanzania’s cardiac treatment infrastructure, and advocated for affordable, locally sourced medical technologies. He speaks the language of doctors and ministers alike—and that counts.
His to-do list is ambitious.
First, he wants to push for universal health coverage—a long-standing goal that remains out of reach for many African countries. Millions of Africans still fall into poverty trying to afford basic care. Janabi argues that local innovation, smarter procurement, and strategic investments can make care more affordable without always waiting on donor aid.
Second, he’s championing regional health manufacturing. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s over-reliance on imported vaccines, masks, and test kits. Janabi aims to support African initiatives in pharmaceutical production, including Tanzania’s nascent efforts and South Africa’s mRNA hub.
Third, he’s prioritizing emergency response readiness. Too often, the continent is caught flat-footed by outbreaks. Janabi wants a new early-warning system, faster data integration, and stronger ties between ministries of health and civil defense units.
Yet the barriers are steep. WHO’s Africa Regional Office is often bogged down by politics, fragmented coordination, and heavy donor dependence. Some critics say it has become more reactive than strategic. Janabi will need to walk a tightrope: maintaining WHO’s diplomatic finesse while becoming a more assertive advocate for African health priorities.
But perhaps his greatest challenge will be trust.
In many African countries, WHO is viewed as a donor-driven entity with Western priorities. Janabi, an African doctor from a public hospital background, could shift that perception. His roots are relatable. His vision, ambitious. The hope is that he becomes not just a figurehead but a catalyst—turning WHO Africa from a responder into a leader.
As he settles into the new post, observers will be watching closely. Can he harness Africa’s growing pool of young health professionals? Will he stand up to donor pressure and insist on homegrown solutions? Can he reduce the bureaucratic clutter and deliver results?
No one expects miracles. But they do expect momentum.
Janabi is inheriting a region that’s sick of being the world’s “health emergency zone.” It wants to become the zone of innovation, dignity, and strength. Whether that’s a prescription he can write—or fill—remains to be seen.
But for now, Africa’s pulse just got a new monitor.
