Regional Updates

An Africentric vision for health: Celebrating Dr. Matshidiso Moeti’s Trailblazing Leadership at WHO Africa

We are proud of the legacy of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, hailing from Botswana, has made history as the first African woman to be elected as the WHO Regional Director for Africa. Since her appointment in 2015, Dr. Moeti has been a transformative leader, ensuring that the WHO’s initiatives in Africa are not only accountable and effective but also deeply rooted in the continent’s unique contexts and needs.

Dr. Moeti’s leadership embodies an Africentric vision focused on equity, inclusivity, and empowerment. She emphasizes the importance of partnerships across traditional and emerging sectors—including philanthropic foundations, civil society, and the engagement of youth and women in global health.

In her words, “My vision is to make good health a reality for all Africans, with a strong focus on equity and leaving no one behind.” Under her guidance, the WHO is actively working with countries to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), enhance health security, and promote well-being across the continent. Innovations and digital health solutions are being leveraged as essential tools to improve health outcomes and accelerate national development.

Dr. Moeti’s tenure has seen significant progress: the region is on track to be certified free of wild poliovirus, a testament to her effective leadership during critical health emergencies. The average time to control outbreaks has dramatically decreased from 418 days in 2016 to just 51 days in 2018, showcasing a more responsive and coordinated WHO. Among a long list of key achievements, Dr Moeti is renowned for having led WHO’s ‘3 by 5’ Initiative in Africa at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, driving access to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV, explained Professor Tiaan de Jager, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor in Environmental Health at the School of Health Systems and Public Health at UP.

“By empowering nurses to prescribe antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), her work helped to shift HIV from a death sentence to a chronic illness in Africa.”

Since taking up the reins as the WHO Regional Director for Africa in 2015, the organisation has achieved key millstones under Dr Moeti’s leadership. These include eradicating the poliovirus in 2020 – the second disease to be eradicated from the continent after smallpox 40 years ago – and increased investments in areas such as surveillance, training, innovation, community engagement and partnerships. The investments have improved countries’ capacity to prepare for and respond to the around 100 acute health emergencies that occur annually on the continent.

With nearly 40 years of national and international experience, Dr. Moeti’s extensive background includes pivotal roles at WHO and contributions to global health initiatives, particularly during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Her academic credentials and recognition, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Health & Allied Sciences in Ghana, further validate her expertise and commitment to public health.

As Dr. Moeti leads the WHO towards a future where health equity is prioritized, her leadership not only reflects an Afrocentric approach but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of African leaders in health and beyond. Together, we can make health a reality for all people in Africa, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Dr Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile of Tanzania nominated as next director for WHO African Region. He will be taking the reins from Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who has served two five-year terms at the helm. African Member States voted to nominate Dr Ndugulile during the Seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Other candidates were Dr Boureima Hama Sambo (proposed by Niger,) Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall (proposed by Senegal) and Dr Richard Mihigo (proposed by Rwanda).