Dr. Félicien Ilunga Bitokwela will soon be 89 years old (born June 30, 1934). He has been living in France since retiring from his position as a WHO official. He is the first Congolese doctor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kinshasa.

In 1954, he began his medical studies and completed them in 1961. When asked to summarize his student and professional life, he said: I am a man born under a lucky star, with divine blessings, both paternal and maternal. I have traveled my life path as if by miracle to this day. I am the only survivor of all my classmates, from the College as well as the University. I can allow myself to write these references on my business card:

• First class of Kamponde College, 1947
• First class of Lovanium University, 1954
• First Congolese doctor at Lovanium University (now Unikin), 1961
• First Congolese doctor allowed to leave the country, 1978
• First Congolese doctor at the WHO, 1978
• First Congolese doctor to represent the WHO, 1981.

In a tribute to Dr. Ilunga published in DC Logos magazine in 2021, we read "If Lovanium is the first university in the DRC and Central Africa, he, Dr. Félicien Ilunga Bitokwela, who graduated from this Alma Mater in 1961, entered the annals of our history as the first Congolese doctor. However, he remains little known as such to the general public, or even to his fellow doctors in his own country.".

My first exchanges with "the Dean" as I like to call it, dates back to October 2018. It was Dr. Kalula Kalambay, a senior at the Faculty of Medicine at Unikin, a public health specialist and retired WHO staff member, who asked me to contact Dr. Ilunga. Dr. Kalula currently resides in Canada where he has become a writer and editor (Editions Empreintes du passant).

On February 17, 2019, I sent Dr. Ilunga a video made by Dr. Bombil Fataki Dercky on the 7th international congress of Afmed-Unikin (Association of Friends and Alumni of the Faculty of Medicine of Unikin) in November 2018. Here is his reaction: "My dear brother, Thank you so much for this Afmed series. I followed it with great emotion. I am wondering how to become a member of Afmed. I absolutely want to participate in the next congress. I will then have the opportunity to introduce myself as the oldest living member." He became a member of Afmed in order of contribution in February 2019.

After several exchanges on WhatsApp, he sent me documents about his career by email on March 14, 2019 at 8:07 p.m., he wrote to me:  "My very dear colleague, As agreed, I am sending you attached some documents about me and also about the first class of Lovanium doctors in 1961. I hope that young doctors will know our story. I have been retired from the WHO since 1995 and I live in France at the following address: …) »

On Saturday, March 23, Dr. Jacques Mangalaboyi, President of the Afmed Congress, and I, Vice-President, were received in their apartment by Mrs. and Mr. Ilunga. These moments will remain unforgettable for us; it was a living page in the history of the DRC and the Faculty of Medicine of Unikin that was opening in front of us... To bring him out of anonymity (as he himself says), he was the guest of honor at the 9th International Congress of Afmed-Unikin in November 2019. He was received with honor by the Deanship of the Faculty of Medicine, headed at the time by Dean Kayembe Jean Marie, current Rector of Unikin, who took the very commendable initiative of immortalizing him by naming an auditorium in the name of Félicien Ilunga. The then President of the National Assembly, Aubin Minaku, organized an evening in his honor at his home.

Dean Dr. Ilunga Félicien between two other doctors, Dr. Jacques Mangalaboyi and Dr. Daniel Tonduangu

Dr. Ilunga's exceptional career deserves to be etched in our history books. The Afmed office and its steering committee, along with the honorary president of the Afmed Congress, Dr. Mangalaboyi Jacques, requested that the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo pay tribute to Dr. Félicien Ilunga Bitokwela. Our request was granted. To be continued.

Done at Rosoy, April 6, 2023

For the Afmed office

Dr. Tonduangu Kuezina Daniel

President