On January 15, 2026, the Pasteur Center of Cameroon (CPC) received a delegation from the Raoul Follereau Foundation composed of Pierre-Yves Thiébault, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Ouss Oleg, Chairman of the Management Board and Project Director, and Johnson Roch-Christian, Medical Director. This visit was part of the partnership between the two institutions committed to combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with skin manifestations.

The exchanges allowed the representatives of the Foundation to better understand the realities of diagnosing these diseases at the CPC, as well as the challenges encountered. They recalled the overall commitment of the Raoul Follereau Foundation, both medical and social, focused on screening, patient care, combating stigma and poverty, with the aim of “restoring dignity to people.” Among its historical actions is the creation, in 1942, of the leper colony in Adzopé, Ivory Coast, which has become a model of inclusion and community-based care.

In a context of decreasing international funding, the delegation expressed its desire to strengthen collaboration with the CPC and to unite the efforts of those involved in the fight against leprosy and other NTDs.
This commitment was praised by Dr. Mirdad Kazanji, Director General of the CPC, who highlighted the role of the Center as a reference laboratory, with unique capabilities for long-term sample preservation and the establishment of biological collections, particularly for cholera, poliomyelitis, and tuberculosis.

The CPC mycobacteriology laboratory is distinguished by its expertise in diagnosing leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and other endemic skin NTDs such as yaws. The localities of Ayos and Bankim are among the most affected areas, as noted by Dr. Sara Eyangoh, Scientific Director of the CPC. She is also responsible for coordinating the Skin NTD LABNET network. According to her statistics, in 2025, out of 114 samples analyzed, 24 tested positive.

The meeting was held in the presence of Dr. Ernest Njih Tabah, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for the Fight against Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer at MINSANTE. The Raoul Follereau Foundation praised the quality of the collaboration with the CPC and reaffirmed its commitment to continue its technical support and capacity building.