REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Paix-Travail-Patrie --- SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE --- SECRETARIAT GENERAL ---
REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland --- PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE --- SECRETARIAT GENERAL ---
| PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWING CABINET MEETING OF WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 *** | | --- |
Yaounde, 31 March 2021
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, His Excellency Joseph DION NGUTE, today Wednesday, 31 March 2021, from 10 a.m., chaired a Cabinet meeting attended by Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers Delegate and Secretaries of State.
Three items featured on the agenda, namely:
- Statement on strategies for developing applied scientific research in Cameroon in response to the emergence of epidemics and endemics;
- Statement on the mechanisms for strengthening vocational training in Cameroon with a view to promoting self-employment;
- Report on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon.
At the end of the opening statement of the Head of Government, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation said that several structures are involved in applied scientific research in Cameroon. Specifically, the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Study (IMPM) plays a key role in medical research. The institute has already made a name for itself by producing drugs for common infectious diseases and epidemics, including HIV-AIDS, typhoid fever and more recently COVID-19. In addition, the Centre for Research on Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases (CREMER) is involved in the field of epidemiological surveillance and detection of emerging diseases.
Specifically, the strategies for strengthening applied research in Cameroon focus on intensifying partnerships with the various actors involved, supporting the galenic formulation of medicinal plants and conducting analyses to determine the properties of traditional pharmacopoeia products. In terms of perspectives, the Minister of Scientific Research intends to (i) create incubators in research institutes, (ii) enhance the value of traditional medicine with a view to strengthening the national health system and (iii) create collaboration platforms with public and private actors involved in scientific research, in order to pool scientific and infrastructural capacities.
The Meeting then followed the presentation by the Minister for Employment and Vocational Training, who began by emphasising the key role of vocational training in reducing youth unemployment and promoting self-employment. He then insisted on the need to deconstruct stereotypes about vocational training, by raising awareness.
In order to strengthen the interest of young job seekers in vocational training, the mechanism deployed by the Minister of Employment aims to ensure a match between the needs of the labour market and the training offered in the training centres. This mechanism is based on three main thrusts, namely (i) collaboration with employers and business leaders to offer training adapted to their needs and ensure opportunities for learners, (ii) constructing and making new vocational training centres operational and (iii) improving the cost of training in public centres.