Ifakara Health Institute proudly congratulates Dr. Seif Shekalaghe, former Ifakara research scientist, and Dr. Grace Magembe, former Ifakara board member, on their recent appointments as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Chief Medical Officer, respectively.

This is a high honor bestowed upon them by the President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, recognizing their dedication, expertise, and contributions to public health. Their appointments were made public on January 17, 2025. 

About Dr. Seif Shekalaghe

Dr. Shekalaghe has a long history with Ifakara, having served as a Senior Research Scientist and Deputy Branch Leader at our Bagamoyo site. His contributions to malaria research, particularly in epidemiological and intervention studies—including mass drug administration (MDA) with different antimalarial drugs—have been instrumental in shaping malaria control strategies. 

He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Tumaini University, KCM College, an MPH from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a PhD on malaria transmission from Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands. 

He has also been actively involved in academia, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, coordinating courses, and co-developing a master’s curriculum in epidemiology and applied biostatistics.

About Dr. Grace Magembe

Dr. Magembe, before this appointment, served as Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government. She once served as a board member at Ifakara and brings a wealth of experience from various roles, including Consultant for the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health at WHO Geneva, Assistant Administrative Secretary for Health and Social Welfare, and Municipal Medical Officer of Health. 

She has also been a Program Manager for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health at Amref Health Africa – Tanzania and is an active member of professional bodies such as the Medical Women Association of Tanzania and the Medical Association of Tanzania.

We are incredibly proud to see our former colleagues take on these vital leadership roles, where their knowledge and experience will continue to make a lasting impact on Tanzania’s health sector. 

We wish them great success in their new responsibilities and look forward to seeing their contributions further strengthen the country’s healthcare system.