Official Launching Ceremony of the 3rd and 4th MARCAD Workshops in Yaoundé/Cameroon

The University of Yaounde 1 (UY1), Cameroon hosted the 3rd- and 4th MARCAD Training on Leadership and Biostatistics, held from 14-25th October 2019. The official launching ceremony of the two workshop took place, on Friday 18th, in the room conference of the Higher National School of the university.

The event was chaired by the vice-Rector, Prof Dontsi, in presence of the ambassadors of Senegal, of Tchad, of Central-African-Republic, the British high commission representant, the university authorities, MARCAD’s northern partners represented by Prof Charles Wondji, some professors of the University, the MARCAD secretariat, fellows and other participants.

In his welcome address, MARCAD/Cameroon PI, Prof Wilfred Mbacham took the opportunity to present the MARCAD achievements in his country. He also returned to what motivated the organization of the two courses led by leading scientists from South Africa, London, Cameroon and Senegal.

‘’We generate a lot of data and a good part of it is not used. That’s why we thought that by giving them leadership and Biostatistics training, our MARCAD fellows will be able to better manage their data and put in place the evidence of their research to be able to contribute to the policy in the fight against malaria ‘’ explained Prof Mbacham.

For its part, the Director of the MARCAD Consortium, Prof Oumar Gaye, thanked the Rector of the University for having facilitated the activities of MARCAD in his institution. Prof Gaye also highlighted the importance of the UY1 Partnership in the programme for the malaria elimination in Africa and the MARCAD contribution in term of capacity building and investments in UY1.

‘’ We are here to celebrate, magnifying beautiful disciplines of leadership and biostatistics as integral parts of activities to build the capacity of our young scientists in the field of malaria research" said Prof Gaye.
The Director of MARCAD highlighted the importance of these two training on leadership and Biostatistics for the young MARCAD scientists fellows and supported staff. According to Prof Gaye, the news skills acquired during the trainings will have positive impacts in the attendees career.

"We hope that with our different training, our fellows will acquire the necessary skills and tools that will allow them to be at the helm to eliminate malaria" Prof Oumar Gaye.
The University of Yaounde vice-Rector, Prof Dontsi, welcome the MARCAD delegation, and recall the important contributions of MARCAD within their institution in terms of capacity building for human resources and investment.

‘’ The University of Yaoundé 1 is committed to accompany and support MARCAD on all levels to allow our institutions to rise to a leading position on the African continent and in the world’’ said Pof Dontsi.
The launch ceremony allowed Prof Emmanuel Pondi from UY1 to give to the public an inaugural course on the important role of scientific diplomacy in the control of malaria in Africa.

The occasion was taken by MARCAD delegation to demonstrate their thankful toward the Rector of the UY1. Prof Oumar Gaye offered a special gift to the Rector of the University of Yaounde 1.
The official launch ceremony of the 3rd and 4th MARCAD Workshops in Yaoundé/Cameroon closed by a symbolic delivery of the key of the UY1 Production Center funded by MARCAD by the vice-Rector of the UY1.