AFENET’s Dr. Hamadi Assane’s candle burns out

African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) announces, with heavy hearts, the death of our dear colleague Dr Assane Hamadi, which occurred on the morning of 15 November 2022 in Mauritania. Dr Hamadi, until his death, was the Resident Advisor for the Mauritania Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). 

Born on August 12, 1971, in Dapaong (Tône Prefecture) Togo, Dr Hamadi had his education in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, France and Burkina Faso. A graduate of Advance Field Epidemiology Training Program, his educational journey spanned through Developmental Biology, Organization and Management of Public Systems, Public Health Economics and Management in developing countries, and Field Epidemiology.

Dr Hamadi has served his country, AFENET and indeed Africa in different capacities. Prior to his last role as the Resident Advisor for the Mauritania Field Epidemiology Training Program, he was the Director and National Trainer/Supervisor of the Togo FETP Program and have served as facilitator to several capacity building initiatives in Africa especially francophone member states. An accomplished Field Epidemiologist, Hamad led and participated in several surveillance systems evaluation, and outbreak investigation and response activities including Avian flu H5N1, Lassa virus fever, Meningitis, Cholera and COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

Dr Assane Hamadi will be greatly missed for the great role and motivation he has provided to public health development in Togo and Africa. We pray God to strengthen the wife, children, family and the AFENET fraternity as we go through this challenging period. AFENET Management is currently engaging with the family on conveying the body from Mauritania to Togo (his home country) for a befitting burial.