Kenya stands to reap potential benefits after Tanzania’s Professor Mohamed Janabi was nominated as the next Regional Director for the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO).
Janabi's nomination was confirmed on Sunday, May 18, during a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Geneva, Switzerland.
His nomination was imminent, especially because he was specifically fronted for the influential role by the Tanzanian government.
The seasoned cardiologist is now set to serve a five-year term in his new role between 2025 and 2030. His official appointment will be made between May 28 and May 29, after which he will officially take office.
After the appointment, Janabi will lead WHO’s regional office in Africa, which is tasked with coordinating health initiatives across 47 member states, including Kenya.
Notably, his leadership comes at a time when Africa's healthcare sector is still recovering from the effects of phenomena such as the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
Kenya, being home to some of Africa’s most respected medical and research institutions, such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Amref Health Africa, will particularly take a keen interest in what reforms Janabi can bring to the fray, since these research institutions have for long partnered with WHO on health programmes.
Despite Kenya not fielding a candidate for the top WHO/AFRO role, she remains an active member of the WHO Regional Committee and is represented at key meetings, including the recent nomination session in Geneva, where Kenyan health officials actively participate in decisions that influence Africa’s health policies.
Under Janabi's leadership, there is a chance Kenya and Tanzania could have a closer collaboration, bearing the East African Community (EAC) health policies in mind.
Kenya could also leverage regional ties to advocate for more funding and technical support from the WHO since a fellow East African is at the helm in leadership.
Janabi succeeds his Tanzanian compatriot, Dr Faustine Ndugulile, who passed away on November 27 while receiving treatment in India.
Interestingly, Janabi was nominated by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, who is not very popular in Kenya as of May 18, after the woes that befell People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua in Tanzania.
