The 6^th Pan-African congress of military medicine took place in Yaoundé (Republic of Cameroon) at the Convention Centre from November 22^nd to 24^th 2005.

It was held under the personal agreement of Cameroonian Head of State, his Excellency Paul BIYA. He personally asked to the Minister of state for the Presidency in charge of Defence, HE Rémy ZE MEKA, and to the Public Health Minister, HE Urbain OLANGUENA, to co-chair this 6th Congress. We could also count on a delegation of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) composed of the Secretary General, Dr Jacques SANABRIA, of the chairman of the scientific Council, Dr General Inspector (2S) Marcel MERLIN and of the person in charge of communication, Mister Paul ZABOURI.

This strong involvement of political actors was at the origin of the great success of the Yaoundé conference. It made the travel of the ICMM General Secretary and the Pan-African Committee of Military Medicine (PACMM) easier, few days before the opening. The two delegations were received by The Minister of Defence of Cameroon, the day before the ceremonies. This presence allowed the resolution of the last minute issues and the perfect harmony of the Congress.

Opening

The Congress was launched on November 22^nd 2005 at 10am in the large room of the conference centre. We also noticed the presence of several members of the Government, representatives of diplomatic missions, Military attachés, as well as international organisations (WHO, UN/AIDS etc…).

It is during this ceremony that after a short speech, General of brigade TWUM, outgoing Chairman, has given the flag of the Pan African Committee of Military Medicine to the host Country (Cameroon) by Col Dr NSANGOU ADAMOU, Director of Military Health, who thus became the new Chairman of the pan African Committee for two years. Mandate that will end during the next Pan African Congress of Military Medicine (7^th Congress) in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2007.

The handing over of service has been signed by both the outgoing and incoming Chairmen.

It was then followed by the opening conference performed by Dr General Professor Desgeorges, on electronic robotics surgery; subject that caught the attention of participants, with its innovative and futurist nature.

On the evening of November 22^nd, a meal has been offered to the Yaoundé Mess officer participants, in the presence of Minister of state for Defence and the Minister of Public Health to which were invited high military persons in charge , from the Police and Penitentiary Administration.

Theme

The chosen theme for this congress was: the role of military medicine in the African expanding socio-economic, with sub-themes such as :

There was also free communications, experts’ plenary conferences and announced communications.

The number of participants reached a hundred and fifty among which eighty-seven nationals and sixty-three foreigners coming from twenty-five African and European countries :

Africa :
Algeria, Angola, Burkina-Faso, Burundi, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Republic of Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao -Tomé e Principe, Senegal, Sudan, South African Republic, Tanzania, Chad, Togo, Tunisia.

Europe : France, Greece.

Apologies for absence : Benin, Germany.

Sent articles : Iran, Zimbabwe, Liberia.

Scientific Congress

It consisted of forty articles distributed as follow, regarding sub-themes :

Free presentations : seven including two Cameroonians.

Decisions

It has been decided during the General Assemblies, among other important decisions and at the request of the members of the PACMM, to implement a training which will be worked out and supervised by the ICMM, training of African military health staff on the application of International Humanitarian law (IHL) and on the intervention of assistance to refugees and displaced persons during operations of peace support. This training will be coordinated by Dr Colonel Adamou NSANGOU, head of military health of Cameroon and chairman of the PACMM. The elaboration of the educational content and the supervising of units’ progress will be carried out by Dr General Inspector (2S) Marcel MERLIN, Chairman of the ICMM Scientific Council.

The leadership of this training, recognized by the ICMM, shall be undertaken by universities, international organisations, inter and non-governmental, based in Yaoundé (Cameroon) such as :

World Health Organisation (WHO),,
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
High Commissariat for Refugees (HCR),
United Nations High Commissariat for Human Rights (UNHCHR),
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
Institute of International Relations (IRIC), University of Yaoundé II,
Central African Catholic University (CACU),
World Food Program (WFP),
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

External contributors could also participate as a position of speakers :

The French Military Co-operation and the Consolidating of African Capacities in the Peace Maintenance.

Closing

The closing of the Congress took place on November 24^th 2005 at 3:00 PM with the speech of the Public Health Minister, HE Urbain OLANGUENA in the presence of the Minister of Defence, the Republic of Congo Minister of State for Defence , members of the government, high-rank militaries in charge, of the National Criminal Investigation Department and of the Penal Administration.

It was followed on the same afternoon at 5:00pm by the visit of the Military Hospital of Yaoundé by the participants: visitors were impressed by the hospital cleanliness. They could value the services such as surgery, infectious disease, radiology, the medical analysis laboratory etc… Doctor General Desgeorges made sure to bring up the importance of neurosurgery and most of all tele-surgery.

At the Mont Fébé Hotel, there has been a farewell dinner with numerous guests : as well as the two Ministers, co-Chairmen of the Committee Organisation and the involved Administrations high ranking persons in charge, were also attending members of the government, representatives of accredited missions in Yaoundé, Army, National Criminal Investigation Department and Penal Administration high ranking persons in charge etc...

This party was liven-up by music from the Armies and other national artists. It ended with the presentations of gifts to some of our distinguished hosts (Secretary-General of the International Committee of Military Medicine, General Secretary of Pan African Committee of Military Medicine, outgoing Chairman of the Pan African Committee of Military Medicine, Doctor general Desgeorges), by the Minister of State for Defence, the Minister of Public Health, the Republic of Congo Minister of Defence, those presents consisted of paintings, statues, albums etc… The party then took end in a great atmosphere of solidarity, friendliness and African feast.

Doctor Colonel NSANGOU ADAMOU,
Head of Military Health of Cameroon
Chairman of Pan-African Committee of Military Medicine