On January 16, 2025, a ceremony was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where the U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Christopher J. Lamora, officially handed over laboratory supplies procured by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The event took place at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center and was attended by Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Cameroon's Minister of Public Health, along with other public health officials and the U.S. CDC Country Director.
The U.S. Government had previously funded the renovation of Cameroon's National Public Health Laboratory in 2016 to enhance its laboratory testing capabilities and ensure compliance with international standards. This facility plays a crucial role in coordinating laboratory testing activities, quality control programs, and hosting training sessions.
In collaboration with UNICEF, CDC’s International Task Force delivered laboratory supplies valued at CFA 63 million francs ($100,000). These resources aim to bolster national laboratory capacity in diagnosing and confirming both emerging and reemerging infectious diseases such as Mpox, cholera, whooping cough, COVID-19, among others.
During his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Lamora emphasized the importance of this partnership: "Strengthening public health capacity is a key goal of the American mission in Cameroon, which is achieved through numerous U.S. Government Agencies as well as international partnerships."