The First Lady

Born on December 4, 1970, Mrs Chantal Biya is the wife of the President of the Republic of Cameroon, HE Paul Biya since April 23, 1994.

IRCCB is a large scale Reference Centre for Africa working in a partnership with African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering. It also works in close collaboration with UNESCO and the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention for the transfer of technology. Its activities cover the whole Central African sub-region.

The Centre also aspires to become an active member of the African Scientific Research Centres and Institutions network so as to integrate and develop clinical research for vaccines and therapies to cure the great endemics raging in Africa, especially HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Institutional Parent

The Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon will act as the parent institution to IRCCB especially its operational Research Division.

IRCCB is a fundamental and clinical research centre as well as an operational organization supporting the National Programme for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS (PNLS) and the activities of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, a NGO promoted by African First Ladies.

Aim and specific objectives

The aim of IRCCB is to support Cameroon's national programmes for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and STDs, especially in the following domains: 

● Prevention

● Care taking

● Training.

In the fields of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, IRCCB wishes to promote: 

● Transfer of technology

● Research

● Training

● Mother and child health.

 

An initiative of First Lady Mrs Chantal Biya, Founding President of CERAC, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, to take an active part in the development of Cameroon by delivering much-needed assistance to the most vulnerable groups. CERAC, which is recognized as a public-interest association, comprises:

- a diplomatic component which brings together the wives of Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Cameroon;

- a national component comprising members of government and persons ranking as such, officials of public and semi-public companies, wives of members of government, elected officers, etc.

Since its inception in 1995, CERAC has been working throughout the country, paying visits to patients, building schools to ensure the education of young Cameroonians, making donations to various hospitals and schools, etc.

CERAC works against natural disasters, all forms of hardship and against HIV-AIDS.

Another initiative launched during the 32nd OAU Summit by the First Lady to address problems facing rural women and children in Africa.

African Synergies is a non-governmental organisation comprising First Ladies from Africa and other continents who accept to adhere to its statute, natural or legal persons of goodwill and scientists who contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of AFRICAN SYNERGY, including former First Ladies of Africa and from other continents, on their request.

Missions  

African Synergies seeks to put an end to child labour and other forms of child abuse. The role of African Synergies is to:

-  seek all means to secure improved living conditions for African rural women;

-  provide constant support for the effective implementation of the Geneva Declaration and African and global platforms.

HIV-AIDS control is a major concern of African Synergies. Many gifts are made to the organization to help combat this scourge, which is plaguing communities worldwide.

Since 1994, in order to raise national and international awareness on the fight against poverty, disease, misery and all types of exclusion in urban and rural areas, Mrs Chantal BIYA, wife of Cameroon’s Head of State, decided to create the Foundation which bears her name.

The main aim of the Chantal BIYA Foundation is to assist vulnerable segments of the population and combat hardship.

An apolitical, non-denominational and non-profit humanitarian association, the Chantal BIYA Foundation which is governed by Law No. 90/53 of 19 December 1990 on freedom of association in Cameroon, was recognized as a public interest association by Decree No. 99/98 of 30 April 1999. Today, the Chantal BIYA Foundation has been granted  special advisory status within the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is also a member of the Francophonie Mother and Child Network.

Objectives of the Foundation 

  • prevent and ease human hardship;
  • ensure the protection, education and social and health needs of mothers and children;
  • assist poor patients;
  • assist and guide abandoned children;
  • assist the elderly;
  • combat poverty and misery;
  • protect the family;
  • assist needy hospitals and health centres with materials and drugs.