Victor Anomah Ngu

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.

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.