Victor Anomah Ngu (1 February 1926 – 14 June 2011) was a Cameroonian professor, researcher and one-time Minister of Public Health. He became famous after inventing VANHIVAX (see Lachenal 2017), a vaccine he affirmed is an immunological solution in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

In 1960, he married Nigerian artist and teacher Etso Ugbodaga-Ngu. Translated by Flora Hibberd.

Ngu died at Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, CHU, after a protracted illness on 14 June 2011.

Early years and education

Victor Anomah Ngu was born on 1 February 1926 in Buea, Cameroon.

After passing his secondary school days at the prestigious St. Joseph's College, Sasse, Buea, Cameroon; he moved to the University of Ibadan (1948–1950), St Mary’s Hospital Medical School and the University of London (1951–1954).

Career

Professor of Surgery, University of Ibadan (1965–1971); Professor of Surgery, Université de Yaoundé (1971–1974); Vice Chancellor, Université de Yaoundé (1974–1982); President of the Association of African Universities (1981–1982); Minister of Public Health, Government of Cameroon (1984–1988); Director of the Cancer Research Laboratory, Université de Yaoundé (1984–); Founder - Hope Clinic Cameroon (1991)

Professional career 1965–1971: Professor at the University of Ibadan 1971–1974: Professor at the University of Yaoundé 1974–1982: Vice Chancellor of the University of Yaoundé 1981–1982: President of the Association of African Universities 1984–1988: Minister of Public Health, Cameroon 1984: Director of the Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Yaoundé 1991: Founded Hope Clinic Cameroon

Awards Ngu received a number of awards and distinctions, including:

Grand Commander of the National Order of Valour in Cameroon Albert Lasker Medical Research Award in Clinical Cancer Chemotherapy Dr. Samuel Lawrence Adesuyi Award and Medal by the West African Health Community

References

Lachenal, Guillaume

2017 The Cultural Politics of an African AIDS Vaccine The Vanhivax Controversy in Cameroon, 2001–2011. In Cultures Without Culturalism. K. Chemla and E.F. Keller, eds. Pp. 69-98. Durham: Duke University Press.