We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dominique Kyelem who died after battling a relentless form of cancer on Sunday, 22 September.
Dominique is an alumnus of LSTM. His PhD focused on the epidemiology and control of lymphatic filariasis in Burkina Faso in the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre (LFSC - now the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases) with Professor David Molyneux.
LFSC’s link with Dominique began in 2000 when, collaborating with him in his role as the Burkina Faso Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Programme Manager, the Centre provided support to launch and sustain the national implementation programme.
That support continues to this day. It was very clear from the beginning that Dominique was a gifted person in every sense of the word. David Molyneux said “From the very outset of knowing Dominique I knew he was someone who would be a leader in the fight against lymphatic filariasis and more recently in addressing the broader neglected tropical diseases. His loss will be felt by all those who have known him”
Dominique commenced his PhD studies as an off-site student with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This meant that he was able to manage the national programme and dedicate himself to his studies. Both of which he did extremely successfully. His dedication to succeed at both was undertaken with what seemed like ease but did in fact entail a lot of burning the midnight oil.
More recently Dominique worked at the Atlanta Task Force for Global Health as Program Director of the LF (now NTD) Support Center. He focused initially on lymphatic filariasis and more recently expanded his expertise to neglected tropical diseases. Colleagues in Atlanta said “Few among us could have handled this challenge so well, but through all he endured Dominique maintained his captivating smile, his infectious positivity and his determination and extraordinary dedication to his work towards eliminating LF, combating other NTDs and righting the inequities of under-served populations throughout the world.”
On hearing the news CNTD’s Director Moses Bockarie said that “Not only have we lost a dear friend and colleague but we have also lost a champion of the goal to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. We will miss him terribly at every level.”
Our sincere condolences are with Dominique’s wife, Regine, his 3 daughters, Brenda, Melissa and Ashley and his family in Burkina Faso. Fellow programme managers for NTD programmes in Africa and elsewhere, and his colleagues and friends in the global health community around the world, mourn his loss and, particularly, recognize just how much each attribute of this wonderful, caring, gifted and attentive human being will be missed. At 51 years, his time with us was just too short.
The Atlanta NTD Support Center is collecting notes of condolence, fond memories, and photos from colleagues and friends to create a memory book for Dominique’s family. A Trust Fund will also be established to help support the educational expenses of his 3 children
Please send your thoughts for inclusion in the book phooper@taskforce.org or if you would like further information about the Trust Fund to PJ Hooper at phooper@taskforce.org