The Cameroon Health Initiative at UAB (CHI UAB) is a multidisciplinary venture established in 2013 to improve the health of women and children in close collaboration with Cameroon partners. CHI UAB is committed to bidirectional research, training, and service initiatives and works in partnership with the UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health. The CHI UAB research team enrolls women and infants in clinical trials and other studies at seven hospital facilities located across most of Cameroon.
Projects are designed in partnership with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH), the University of Buea, and Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services. Scientific topics are prioritized with input from collaborators and community members in Cameroon about how best to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Current NIH-funded research projects focus on preventing infection in pregnancy and reducing vertical transmission rates for hepatitis B, malaria, and syphilis. Other projects focus on reducing maternal morbidity and mortality with novel mobile health interventions, treatment of syphilis in pregnancy, and breast and cervical cancer prevention including HPV vaccination, screening, and follow-up programs.
CHI UAB offers bidirectional opportunities for service and training for faculty, residents, fellows, and students including a global health fellowship training opportunity for postgraduate residents focused on women’s and children’s health.
Leading UAB Faculty for Cameroon Initiatives
Simon Manga, Ph.D., R.N. (Based in Cameroon, NIH D43 Trainee)
Partners
Cameroon Baptist Convention Services
University of Buea (Godlove Wepnje, Ph.D., NIH D43 Trainee)