The guests yesterday, July 11, 2016, in Yaounde, began four days of meetings with officials of institutions founded by First Lady Chantal Biya.

Ties between First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya and Guinea Conakry’s First Lady, Mrs. Djene Conde Kaba, continue to grow from strength to strength, with the arrival in the country last weekend of a delegation from the West African nation. The Executive Secretary of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, Jean Stéphane Biatcha, yesterday, July 11, 2016, in Yaounde, on behalf of First Lady, Chantal Biya, received the team of two.

Dr Karfalla Kaba, Executive Director of “Fondation Conde Djene Kaba pour la promotion de la santé maternelle et infantile”, FCDK-PROSMI, and Dr Piou Gamet Beavogui, Officer in charge of Programmes, are on a nine-day mission on behalf of Mrs. Djene Conde Kaba’s foundation. Welcoming the team at the African Synery headquarters at Melen, Jean Stéphane Biatcha noted the similarities in the humanitarian activities of Mrs. Biya and Mrs. Conde such as fighting disease, assisting the vulnerable, offering educational and health assistance, etc. He explained that the visit would enable both sides share experiences and learn from each other, noting that the two First Ladies enjoyed excellent relations and shared great mutual respect.

He then debriefed the guests on the reasons for the creation of various bodies by Mrs. Chantal Biya, their activities and impact. The Executive Secretary of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, then narrowed down on the activities and impact of the international humanitarian organisation he manages. He added that Mrs. Conde bought the vision soon after becoming First Lady, joining African Synergy in March 2011. The debriefing was followed by a video projection on the activities of African Synergy.

Responding, the leader of the Guinean team, Dr Karfalla Kaba, described Mrs. Chantal Biya as a model to Mrs. Conde. He added that the activities of “Fondation Conde Djene Kaba” were inspired by those of African Synergy. These include prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and HIV awareness campaigns, sensitization on female genital mutilation, offer of stationery to children from needy families, promotion of girl child education and combating Ebola. Apart from “Fondation Conde Djene Kaba,” the Guinean First Lady also runs a nursery school/day care centre and an amusement park for children.

Later on in the day yesterday, the Guinean delegation met with officials of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering. Today, July 12, 2016, the guests are due to meet the Director of the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre, CIRCB, and also visit the research facility in Melen, Yaounde. The official meetings will be concluded on Friday, July 14, 2016, with a visit to the Chantal Biya Foundation.