The Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for research on the prevention and care of HIV / AIDS will extend research to cover three additional pathologies ; Tuberculosis, Cancer and Hepatitis in 2025.
This is one of the outcomes of the 13th ordinary session of the Board of Directors meeting which held in Yaoundé on 17th December 2024. It was a session that permitted the Board of Directors to examine the institution’s performance report for 2024 and projects outlined for 2025.
“We have had 47 publications and our publications have increased in quality and quantity,” Dr. Godwin Nchinda, Deputy Director General of the International Research Centre told CRTV Web.
Some *of* the scientific documents were published by researchers in the CBIRC, and others are a fruit of collaboration with external partners in other parts of Africa, Europe and Canada.
As the Board of Directors charted a course for the upcoming year, they sought solutions to existing difficulties in resource mobilization.
“We are asking government bodies to grant subventions to CBIRC. They should meet up with the pledges they took at the start of the year,” Pr. Alexis Ndjolo, Director of the Centre said.
The roadmap for 2025 also includes plans to reinforce internal resource mobilization, reinforce external financing coming principally from research projects and cutting down dependence on government structures.
“We know how difficult the times are, so we are looking for innovative ideas especially how we can commercialize our products, propose them to industries, and other partners so we can have some resources,” the Director said.
Extending research to cover three new pre-occupying pathologies will be one of the major areas of interest for the board in 2025.
“We also want to increase our competence by working on other pathologies like TB, cancer especially the Human Papilloma Virus, and reduce mother to child transmission of hepatitis B and C,” Prof. Ndjolo adds .
The experts are hoping to achieve the outlined projects for the oncoming year on a static budget of about 5 billion FCFA. They are however counting on the support of trained researchers in the country and those who have acquired knowledge abroad, likewise partners.
Kathy Neba Sina
