Sylvia Bongo Ondimba’s visit to Cameroon could not have been complete without her visiting some of Mrs Chantal Biya’s humanitarian achievements. Reason why immediately after enlisting into the membership of the Pan African NGO African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, she went on to visit the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV and AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB) which is within the premises of African Synergy Headquarters in Yaounde. She also visited the Chantal Biya Foundation (FCB) whose goal is to give hope to the sick and vulnerable especially women and children.

During her 24-hour visit to Cameroon, Gabon’s First Lady took time off to visit some of the humanitarian activities of Cameroon’s First Lady. At CIRCB, Gabon’s First Lady, accompanied by her Cameroonian counterpart, was shown round various scientific research laboratories by the General Director of CIRCB, Dr Pierre Joseph Fouda and the President of the Management Committee of CIRCB, Jean Stéphane Biatcha. Sylvia Bongo was also taken round the prevention agency and the documentation and information centre of CIRCB which was inaugurated on 23 February, 2006. CIRCB is the result of a massive advocacy initiated by African first ladies through the NGO African Synergy with partnership from the Italian government, World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention, UNESCO and the Institute of Human Virology.
Meanwhile at FCB, dignitaries were also able to watch a power point presentation of the foundation’s activities including its goal of alleviating suffering, misery, poverty and caring for abandoned while constructing primary schools and handing to the government. During her one-hour stay at FCB, the Director of the Mother and Child Centre, Professor Koki Ndoumbo, together with the Secretary General of the FCB, Habissou Bidoung, conducted the first ladies round the neonatal and paediatric units of the hospital. After signing the visitor’s book, Sylvia Bongo displayed her skills in dancing by joining a dance group of an association of girls and women from the Upper Sanaga Division in the centre Region in a goodbye rhythm.