The ribbon was cut on Wednesday 8 May 2024 during the official inauguration ceremony. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Minister for Health and the Minister for Scientific Research and Innovation. The event was attended by a large number of administrative authorities and the international scientific community.
It was an unforgettable moment, worthy of remembrance. Representatives of the Minister of Public Health (MINSANTE) and the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI) honoured the ceremony with their presence. In addition to these, the following were present: the Head of the Nkoulou district, the Sub-D.O and the Mayor of Nkolafamba the resident representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the General Director of Centre Pasteur Cameroon , heads of departments from the universities of Yaoundé 1, Dschang and Douala, university professors, etc. In all, 250 illustrious figures from the world of science took part in this ceremony.
On their arrival, they were all welcomed by Professor Charles Wondji, Executive Director of CRID. Once the customary greetings were over, the floor was given to the head of the district, then to Mr Ondigui Owona Jean François, Mayor of Nkolafamba, followed by CRID’s Executive Director and finally Dr Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain, representing the Minister of Health.
In her welcome remark, the head of the Nkoulou district said that ‘‘this building is one of the major works to be completed in the locality’’. The Mayor of Nkolafamba then expressed his satisfaction at the fact that all the town planning files had been completed by CRID. He added cheerfully: ‘’I can tell you without shame and with great pride that this is the most beautiful building in Nkolafamba. Thank you, Mr. Executive Director, for certainly having considered, with your partners, bringing this project here”.
The building inaugurated is a 5-storey structure. It has at ground floor an amphitheatre of more than 100 seats, a computer room with a server for analysing large data and sequencing genomes, and insectariums for breeding vectors of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. There are also 3 large general and molecular biology laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, enabling CRID researchers to carry out advanced analyses on site in Cameroon.
After the ribbon-cutting by Dr Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain, representing the Minister of Public Health, he was given a guided tour of the CRID’s infrastructural potential. He was moved and pleased by what he saw, and praised the initiative. He took the opportunity to congratulate Professor Charles Wondji on his daring initiative, pointing out that the Ministry of Public Health has made the fight against infectious diseases one of its fundamental priorities. Dr Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain pointed out that if we are to have innovative strategies that are suited to Cameroon, we will need to do more research and, in turn, multiply initiatives like this one. ‘’I think that the MoH Dr Manaouda Malachie should come and see this book for himself,’’ he said.
