2022 Local Authors Expo Spotlight: Dr. Hugues Fidele Batsielilit

The annual Local Authors Expo is this Saturday, November 5, at the Central Library from 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.!

Learn more about the local authors coming with these author spotlights, starting with Dr. Hugues Fidele Batsielilit. 

Dr. Hugues Fidele Batsielilit is bringing three books to the Local Authors Expo. You can purchase his books on BookNook and Bookshop.

Dr. Batsielilit is a public health advisor with over 20 years of experience working at domestic and international levels. He is also the founder of the ICAN organization, an NGO that enhances health promotion and awareness in rural and urban areas and improve the birth survival rates in Senegal, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Haiti, and Equatorial Guinea. He received the Literary Titan Book Award (Silver Award) in 2021. 

BPL: Tell me about your book.

Dr. Batsielilit: False-Positive HIV Test Results: The Silent Issue in African Countries [is a] book is to educate both healthcare professionals and laypersons on what constitutes accuracy in testing, testing conditions, what steps must be taken, and strategies developed to provide more accurate testing and results thereby, improving the lives of those needing to receive the test. The concept of the book was chosen as a result of witnessing, first-hand, patients being diagnosed inaccurately via the receipt of false-positive HIV test results, and the devastation it wrecked in their lives. HIV/AIDS continues to be spoken of in whispers throughout many African villages, and when someone is diagnosed with the virus—even falsely—they can suffer termination of employment, be ostracized from their home and community, and lose family, friends, and even financial resources.

Telemedicine Services: An Argument for Use in Africa, Haiti, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Healthcare Systems book is a compelling and important work of non-fiction that advocates for the implementation of telemedicine in the locations mentioned in the title. Additionally, the book examines the benefits of telemedicine against the backdrop of the reality that existing systems are deficient, not prioritized by the governments, and people— especially those residing in rural areas—are suffering, even dying.

The COVID-19: Africa, Haiti, and the U.S. Virgin Islands book describes the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, [which] has wreaked havoc on personal lives, disrupted school attendance and the social and emotional development of children; been at the core of political debates; and even caused fights. It has proven to be the most divisive public health disaster of our time. Although having fewer cases and deaths than other countries and continents, Africa, Haiti, and the U. S. Virgin Islands have experienced difficulties due to compromised and insufficient healthcare infrastructure, hospitals, and clinics are still in the throes of recovery from natural disasters, and funding that is never enough. COVID-19 has presented challenges to the economic and social survival of these areas, which may take years to overcome. Lessons learned from this first wave of the virus, will be critical to recovery and successful response to any other pandemics that may occur. [This] book covers a breadth of challenges that surfaced with COVID-19 and offers salient recommendations to address another wave, variants, and any future pandemic that may occur.

BPL: What inspired you to write your book(s)?

Dr. Batsielilit: What inspired me to write my books is the desire to educate people about the approaches they can adopt to prevent disease outbreaks from occurring or recurring and avoid facing the negative impact of these diseases. I have expert knowledge of the use of educational programs, health services, public policy, and research to stop or mitigate diseases. I believe this could be useful to share with others, therefore, writing books about these public health issues could change the way people see the diseases and could inspire them to act or just make them feel empowered with the knowledge of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.

BPL: Who is your favorite author and why?

Dr. Batsielilit: I don’t have favorite writers since even the best writers are patchy, but one book I find that bears re-reading is Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, which sold 35 million copies and is the most translated book in the world by a living author. The book combines magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery. The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

BPL: What do you hope readers get out of your books?

Dr. Batsielilit: I hope my readers will welcome new awareness about effective approaches they can adopt to prevent disease outbreaks from occurring or recurring and avoid facing the negative impact of these diseases. I hope readers feel inspired to learn more about HIV/AIDS false results and Covid-19 denials affecting people worldwide and the benefit of utilizing telemedicine, especially in rural areas, as described in my books. One of my books deals with many people’s stories related to HIV/AIDS stigmatization, which prevents effective preventive approaches. I hope readers feel included in this hidden issue and that it helps break down some of the stigma associated with that type of work. Moreover, I’ve published my books in the belief that the readers will get practical information on every aspect of public health and infectious diseases based on experiences of those countries rather than the "shoulds and musts" that the Internet is flooded with today.

BPL: Any advice you would give for new authors or those desiring to become an author?

Dr. Batsielilit: Simple advice I got a long time ago from a mentor. New authors should consider all their options. In these digital days, publishing offers a whole continuum of options, from indie-author publishing to several forms of assisted self-publishing, to the traditional trade-publishing model. But the idea you prefer on that continuum depends on your readiness to learn, your desire for control over the process, your financial resources, and what’s offered to you. Do your homework and make an informed decision. Don’t just go with your unthinking response. And also understand the value of your intellectual property. Don’t be in a hurry to give it away.

Meet Dr. Batsielilit in person at the Local Authors Expo this Saturday, November 5, at the Central Library, 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the Local Authors Expo.