By Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon.
The government and people of Cameroon, the academic circles have paid their last respect to the emblematic medic and researcher, Late Prof. Peter Martins Ndumbe.
Prof. Ndumbe, who died Tuesday, May 14 2013 in a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, was buried Saturday, July 6 2013 in his village, Ofrikpabi in Nguti Subdivision, Kupe-Muanengouba Division of South West Region.
At an Academic Honours in the Amphi 750 of the University of Buea, UB, Thursday, July 4 2013, the Governor of the Southwest Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, representing the government of Cameroon joined hundreds of mourners to pay tributes to the fallen and eminent immunology.
UB Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Lyonga said the coming of Prof. Ndumbe to the Faculty of Health Sciences, FHS, UB, in 2006 was a gift to the institution, saying today, it is a pearl to all who belong in the university thanks to the touch of the deceased. “If one could deny death, Prof. Ndumbe, would have done so. He is an emblematic figure that represented what Cameroon stood for,” she noted.
Top Cameroonian Professors & varsity dons pay their respect to a fallen colleague
According to the UB VC, they have come to celebrate a colossus, who joined the likes of Profs. Gottlieb Monekoso and Boniface Nasah to put up a grand FHS in UB. She added; “We are here to remember what Prof Ndumbe stood for and what UB stands for, alongside another fallen and former Dean of FHS, Prof. Theodocia McMoli, for what they have done for this university.”
Dr. Nalova saw in him a man who put his all amidst his illnesses, despite his
Varsity dons across Cameroon bid farewell to a fallen heroe.
horrible looks after the partial stroke. “A man so committed to work. Even his illness will not slow him down. We are celebrating a professional, passionate researcher and a medic,” she mentioned.
To give back to late Prof. Ndumbe all what he did for the betterment of mankind, the UB authorities championed the creation of a fund – Prof. Peter Martins Ndumbe Charity Medical Fund, with the aim to support patients in some health districts in Buea municipality that
Hundreds of mourners at the UB Amphi 750 came to pay their last respect to late Prof Ndumbe
cannot pay for their medicines, an action, which the deceased carried out in his focus on community medicine.
The representative of the Minister of Higher Education highlighted the contributions of late Prof. Ndumbe in science and medicine across Cameroon and beyond while Prof. Aurelien Sosso, Rector, University of Yaoundé I said the pain is deep with the sudden death of Prof. Ndumbe. “He has left an indelible mark in science and medical research in
VRector of University of Yaounde I Prof. Aurelien Sosso delivers is tribute at the Academic Hounours
University of Yaoundé I, across Cameroon and beyond,” Prof. Sosso mentioned.
He recalled that the deceased is a Co-author of more than sixty scientific articles in renowned journals across the world, adding that the scientific community was still expecting more from Prof. Ndumbe but God called him to His side so soon.
The varsity don told mourners that it is not where the deceased will be buried that
UB VC Dr Nalova Lyonga delivering her tribute forlate Prof. Ndumbe
matters but the art he left behind and those who will remember him.
Dr. Charlotte Ndiaye, heading a threesome delegation from the WHO Regional Office in Central Africa based in Brazzaville, Congo, where late Prof. Ndumbe was working as Programme Manager for Research, Publications and Library Service before he died, said WHO has lost an iconic staff in Prof. Ndumbe, while enumerating his achievements and research findings. “He used his vast
Mr. Jackson Kepe brother of the deceased
experience on behalf of WHO for the betterment of the African continent,” Ndiaye said.
Other speakers that included; Prof. Emmanuel Nges Chia, Vice Chancellor, Cameroon Christian University, Prof. Marcellin Ngowe Ngowe, Dean, FHS, UB, Prof. Tetanye Ekoe, Vice President, Cameroon Medical Council, Prof. Sammy Beban Chumbow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and Prof Rose Gana Leke all saw a perfect example of someone highly educated but simple, an example of a highly qualified African scientist in the stature and content of Prof. Ndumbe that Cameroon should be proud to have given to the world.
Biography
Born to Papa Martin Ndumbe Kepe and Mama Fanny Fese Kepe née Nkumbason on December 1 1954, Peter Martins Ndumbe until his demise, was a Medical Doctor specialised in Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Clinical Epidemiology.
1979, he obtained the Doctor of Medicine from the University Centre for Health Sciences, University of Yaoundé with Mention tres honorable.
After serving as Divisional Chief of Preventive Medicine and Rural Health Services in Donga Mantung Division, Northwest Region, from September 1980 to August 1981, he will from 1981 – 85, study at the London School of Hygiene and graduated with a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology and a PhD in Immunology.
The deceased served in various administrative and professional positions. These, include Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I from 1999 to 2006. From 2006 – May 2011, he was redeployed to the University of Buea, UB, as Dean, FHS, taking over from Prof. Theresia Akenji.
Thanks to research and hard work, Peter Ndumbe, from 1997 became a Professor of Virus Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaoundé I. He did serve as Director of the Centre for the study and control of Communicable Diseases in the same university.
Prof. Ndumbe was a member of several national, international professional and academic societies. Since 2003 until his death, he was the chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, STAC of UNICEF, UNDP, WORLD BANK and WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.
He was a founding member and chair of the Task Force on Immunisation for the African Region since 2004, with the responsibility to look out for a new vaccine against tuberculosis, malaria and HIV.
Prof. Ndumbe was the 2nd Vice President of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, member of the Cameroon Medical Association since 1979,member of the Institute of Biology, UK since 1990, member of the International AIDS Society since 1990, member of the Society on AIDS in Africa since 1991.
The erudite medic consulted for GTZ in the training of medical officers for the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon in HIV/AIDS management.
After he was replaced as the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, UB, May 2011, he joined the WHO Central Africa office in Brazzaville, Congo as the Programme Manager for Research, Publications and Library Services.
Prof Ndumbe is survived by two children and hordes of friends in the world of science, medicine and academia to remember him.
