Early in 2023 a friend of FARR, Dr Thierry Maillard (Coordinator of the FASD network of the Indian Ocean Islands), invited FARR CEO, Dr Leana Olivier to be the keynote speaker at the First FASD Conference in Africa hosted in Antananarivo, Madagascar on 6 – 7 April 2023.
During the conference the Africa.FASD Network was established on 7 April 2023.
Founding Members of the Africa.FASD Network
Clockwise from left to right:
- Dr Leana Olivier (Chairperson Africa.FASD Network & FARR CEO)
- Prof Bérénice Roy Doray (Geneticist, Dean of the Health University of Reunion Island and Director of the FASD Resource Centre)
- Mr Bruno Dugay (Chairperson of DUMA Foundation)
- Dr Meissa Nekaa (Addictologist, Hospital Practitioner at University Hospital of Reunion island, Mission Manager for the animation and coordination of the medical training plan and Coordinating doctor for the FASD Resource Centre)
- Miss Chantal Cola (Coordination of the association SAF Oi Madagascar)
- Dr Thierry Maillard (Vice-Chairperson of Africa.FASD Network, General Practitioner, Addictologist and Chairperson of the association SAF Indian Ocean Islands)
Steering committee of the Africa.FASD Network
With representatives from various African countries (left to right):
- East Africa: Prof Gibson Kibiki (Founding Executive Secretary of the East African Research Commission)
- South Africa: Dr Leana Olivier (Chairperson)
- Ghana: Dr Ashura Bakani (Obstetrician, Ashanti Region)
- Uganda: Prof Nazarius M Tumwesigye (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University)
- Tanzania: Prof Blandina T. Mmbaga (Director Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute)
- Mali: Prof Tidiane Diallo (Department of Pharmacology, University of Bamako)
- Ms Tupokigwe Jana (Secretary)
- Dr Thierry Maillard (Vice-Chairperson)
At present, the Africa.FASD Network’s steering committee is in the process of developing the necessary founding documents, sharing information about country events and situations, and increasing their understanding and knowledge about FASD and the needs in Africa.
A successful meeting in Dar-es-Salaam in June 2023 and the attendance of an alcohol harm reduction meeting in New York in September 2023, are some of the Africa.FASD Network’s highlights to date.
In September 2024, Dr Leana Olivier presented an overview of the network on behalf of the Africa.FASD Network, at the EUFASD Conference in Madrid. The 2nd Africa.FASD Network Conference, which is scheduled for October 2025, was also announced.
Dr Thierry Maillard and Dr Leana Olivier at the EUFASD Conference in Sept 2024
Contact africa.fasd@farrsa.org.za for more information.
