Video footage captured on a mobile phone last May shows Dr Richard Valery Mouzouko Kiboung and his colleagues celebrating his 42nd birthday in Maroua, in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Tragically, that was Richard’s last birthday. On 19 April he was killed while responding to the Ebola outbreak in Butembo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Richard was always ready to go where people would need his help most. He would regularly spend 15 to 20 days a month working among isolated communities in his home country, Cameroon, far from his wife, Friquette, and 4 children.
He was passionate about public health. He trained as a doctor in Cameroon, before studying at Antwerp’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, in Belgium, where he acquired a Masters degree, a PhD and pursued post-doctoral studies. Dr Veerle Vanlerberghe, Richard’s thesis supervisor in Antwerp observed: “He was very concerned about vulnerable population groups …. He was always eager to learn new methods and to apply them in the combat of diseases thriving on his continent.” (Read the ITM tribute.)
He went on to serve vulnerable communities – refugees, internally displaced people, and nomadic groups. He investigated diseases like yellow fever, measles, polio, meningitis, neonatal tetanus and Ebola, and led many different vaccination campaigns in multiple countries.
Richard never stopped learning – and became a committed teacher himself, leading trainings for hundreds of young doctors and health workers. And he was a great communicator. He mastered eight languages: in addition to French and English, he spoke local Cameroonian languages of Ewondo, Bafia, Hausa, Bulu, Douala, and Bassa.
His colleagues speak of his humility and selflessness; his kindness and thoughtfulness to others; his professionalism and his sense of duty.
Here some of his closest colleagues share thoughts on what Richard meant to them.
“Richard occupied the room next to mine at the hotel in Butembo. He liked to have order around him, even in the middle of the chaos we were working in. Often, when I would return from work and found him cleaning his room, I would ask if he wasn’t too tired to clean after all the work he was doing in the field. He would just smile. He was always very orderly and calm, and a very good listener.”– Bienvenue Onjoh, Control and Prevention of Infections Program, Butembo.
“Richard was like a big brother. He regularly sent me job advertisements and would say to me: “Little sister, did you receive my message? You have to apply,” — Soterine Tsanga, communication officer in Cameroon office, who was also deployed to DRC and worked closely with Richard.
“He forbade me to take too much meat. Richard bought me carrots every Saturday. In turn I taught him Swahili. The first word he learnt was “pole pole” which means “slowly. He often said it to stop when I speak quickly, with his sweet voice, he would say: ‘Liliane: pole pole!’ He was like a father for me.” — Liliane Soki Musavuli WHO Butembo.
“It is difficult for me to process the disappearance of our colleague, friend and brother. He had compassion, unfailing honesty, a sense of duty and a deep faith. Richard showed unparalleled professionalism.” — Irene Yakana Emah, the President of WHO Cameroon Staff Association.
“Richard was humble, sociable and ready to fly instantly to help his neighbour. I wasn’t surprised when he informed me that he was going to serve in the DRC. He was a true professional, an excellent team leader who knew how to create around him a friendly atmosphere to liberate the best qualities in his team and among his collaborators. Richard died in his constant quest to serve his neighbour as he committed to the Hippocratic Oath. He will live forever in our hearts and will remain an example of self-denial.” — Dr Marcellin Nimpa, a surveillance officer in WHO office in Madagascar.
“I vividly remember when Richard contacted me in February to announce he was going to Butembo. I knew him as a hardworking, soft-spoken and results-driven colleague. We worked together in WHO to support Cameroon government efforts in polio eradication. His passing away is a big loss to Cameroon and most especially to his family. He remains our hero.” — Dr Gérald Sume, WHO Nigéria.