Moustafa Mijiyawa, the former Minister of Health and Public Hygiene from Togo, is a candidate for the position of Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa. Nominated by his home country, he is one of five candidates selected by the organization for an election set to take place on May 18, 2025, in Geneva, during the second special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.
Mijiyawa’s candidacy is backed by a wealth of experience in the health sector, both domestically and across the African continent. Serving as a minister from 2015 to 2024, he has over thirty years of experience as a rheumatologist, working both in Togo and internationally.
His professional background encompasses medical education, physiotherapy, and the development and application of prosthetics and orthotics. For nearly two decades, he led the National School of Medical Auxiliaries (ENAM) in Lomé and coordinated the rheumatology residency program at the University of Lomé as a research professor.
If elected, Mijiyawa would take on a pivotal role in enhancing public health across Africa, spearheading initiatives aimed at disease prevention and health capacity building. His responsibilities would include managing responses to health emergencies, such as epidemics and other crises, while collaborating with member states, partner organizations, and NGOs.
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Additionally, he would focus on strengthening health systems by advocating for improved infrastructure, access to primary care, and the training of healthcare professionals.
This election occurs in a distinctive context, following the passing of Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, the previously elected Regional Director, in November 2024. The organization of this exceptional election seeks to appoint a new leader to guide WHO’s health strategies on the continent.
