The New Gynecological Ward inaugurated in Cameroon

In 2016, in the context of capacity enhancement activities in African countries for clinical research in infectious diseases, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, through the Global Health organization, made a donation to CIRES (Centre International de Recherches, d'Enseignements et de Soins), an institution recently created by Médecins sans Frontières, for setting up a gynecological room and supporting the 1st year-salaries in the district hospital of Akonolinga in the Region Centre in Cameroon. Contribution by the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Development organization (in our Biopharma R&D sector) also allowed to buy the gynecological chair for the hospital.

The addition of the gynecological service to the district hospital both reinforces the local capacity to provide gynecological care to patients in need and is the basis for potential future clinical research on 'female genital schistosomiasis' and related gynecological diseases.

The inauguration of the gynecological room, co-organized by CIRES and Global Health in collaboration with the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Africa North West management, was celebrated on March 27, 2017 at the hospital in Akonolinga; representative from the Cameroonian Ministry of Health as well as local governmental officials attended the event.  This meeting represented an important opportunity for us to meet and foster dialogues with key local stakeholders; all of our businesses were represented.