IANPHI Remembers Dr. Mwele

Dr. Mwele with Dr. Natalie Mayet from South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases

Dr. Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela (1963-2022) was a guiding force for IANPHI during its early days.

Following her election as the first vice president of IANPHI in 2011 when she was director general of Tanzania's National Institute for Medical Research, she was fully committed to our organization’s success, including organizing and hosting a highly memorable and successful annual meeting in Arusha, Tanzania.

She, jointly with Dr. Sarah Wamala, created an informal community of practice for female NPHI directors who conversed regularly, providing a unique peer to peer perspective for what was, at that time, a very small group.

Her vision and enthusiasm led to the creation of the IANPHI Africa Regional Network. As the network’s first chair, she led the strategic discussions that fostered the strong solidarity and community of the network today.

She was an active advocate for IANPHI at home and abroad, including as the star of a video (see below) explaining the organization and the contributions of NPHIs.

She was a trailblazer in the field of scientific research and public health, a mentor to young men and women everywhere, dynamic and compelling presence wherever she went, and a friend to all of us. She embodied the solidarity and collaborative spirit of IANPHI.

Her technical and policy expertise, leadership, and warm and empathetic approach to everyone she met will be sorely missed.