HIFA mourns the untimely loss of Professor Joseph Ana, co-founder of HIFA and a key member of the HIFA Steering Group and forum.
Below is a tribute from HIFA ccordinator Neil Pakenham-Walsh. Dozens of tributes continue to be shared on the HIFA forum and you can read them here: https://www.hifa.org/rss-feeds/17
Tributes are also pouring in from the many networks where Joseph was leading player, including AfroPHC and Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Actions Network.
Tribute from HIFA Coordinator, Neil Pakenham-Walsh, 12 April 2026:
"I was shocked and saddened to learn this morning about the passing of our dear friend and colleague Joseph Ana, on 3 April after a short illnesss. I was communicating with him only a few weeks ago. Colleagues on the Africa Primary Health Care community of practice note 'this is a huge loss for the primary health care community and for Africa', 'Prof Joseph was truly an influential icon in AfroPHC', and 'Dr. Ana was a towering figure in clinical governance and primary health care reform in Africa'.
"Joseph had been a very active member of the HIFA steering group since we first launched in 2006. He was extraordinarily generous with his time, representing HIFA on many occasions. He also generously shared his experience and expertise, and we shall all remember his many hundreds of astute contributions to the HIFA forum over the past two decades.
"Joseph graduated as a medical doctor in Nsukka, Nigeria, and later worked in Urology and General Practice, where he was a Partner in Leighton Buzzard, UK. In 2004 he returned to Calabar, Nigeria, as Cross River State Commission for Health where he tirelessly developed and promoted clinical governance, with his unique model of 12-Pillar Clinical Governance, an evidence-based solution developed by Professor Joseph Ana for health sector and system strengthening in Low and Middle Income Countries. https://www.hri-global.org/12-pillars.html
"I met Joseph in the early 2000s when he was a key member of Health Information Forum, a group we set up that later evolved into HIFA. Joseph was passionate about knowledge translation and the importance of meeting the healthcare information needs of health workers, patients and policymakers. He worked closely with Richard Smith, former editor of the BMJ, and pioneered and ran the West Africa edition of the BMJ for many years. Later in collaboration with Professor Lara Fairall, Science Director of Knowledge Translation Unit, South Africa and with the subsequent editor of The BMJ Fiona Godlee and Tracy Eastman (now a HIFA steering group member and director of Global Healthcare Information Network) Joseph's company HRI Global localized PACK for Nigeria — developed by Nigerians, for Nigeria— to address gaps in clinical competence in primary health care.
"I shall remember Joseph as one of the kindest and wisest colleagues I have had the pleasure to work with. We shall all greatly miss his warmth and positive impact on our lives and on the world.
"On behalf of HIFA I offer my deepest condolences to Joseph's family and friends."
Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator