The amphi 700 of the University of Yaounde 1 was the venue of the official launching ceremony of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Secretariat (MIMSEC) in Cameroon last Friday. The event took place under the distinguished patronage of the First lady Mrs Chantal Biya, founding president of the African Synergy. Present at the launching were representatives of the Ministries of Public Health and Scientific Research, the diplomatic corps as well as researchers.
The University of Yaounde 1 will be the next host of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Secretariat. The move to Cameroon is expected to have begun in July 2010 and will be completed in January 2011. Established in 1997 as an initiative to strengthen and sustain through collaborative research and training, the capacity of malaria endemic countries in African to carry out research required to develop and improve tools for malaria control, the MIM has fully grown into network that builds capacity among African scientists to conduct research. The objectives of MIM are among other issues to develop sustainable malaria research capacity in Africa through international and Pan-African scientific partnerships.
Speaking during the occasion, Director of the Biotechnology centre of the University of Yaounde 1 and Chair of MIMSEC, Professor Rose Leke said the secretariat during its term of office will like to bring together the main alliance formed in Dakar 13 years ago and also have main representations in each country. The Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo said the initiative is timely looking at the disaster caused by malaria in the tropical zone. He said Cameroon will support initiatives which contribute in the wellbeing of the populations. The initiative, according to him, will confirm the leadership of Cameroon in the sub region in the domain of the prevention and fight against epidemics. He called on the members to work with all sagacity and synergy with all ministerial departments involved in this domain of activity adding that this horizontal approach, will to a large extent, solidify the systems and ensure that those who suffer greatly, mostly women and children, benefit most through the promotion of Africa Synergistic capacity building among partners to alleviate mass suffering and the burden of diseases in African populations. The event was animated by the university brass band, dance group and the University of Yaounde 1 choir.
