Cardiovascular Journal of Africa: Vol 28 No 4 (July/August 2017)

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CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 28, No 4, July/August 2017 276 AFRICA
Dr Dzudie offered concluding remarks for day one. He
highlighted the burden of CVDs in Africa, the antihypertensive
effect of statins (Hope III trial), cardiovascular risk-factor
stratification, the role of the general practitioner in the
management of hypertension, being open to the mentor–
mentee system, and the dissemination of research findings. He
rendered tributes to the organisers and partners, both local and
international, and gratitude to all participants.
Day 2: Grand rounds: cardiovascular diseases in
pregnancy
A clinical visit to the obstetrics and gynaecology ward of the
Douala General Hospital was conducted. This was led by Profs
Karen Sliwa and Eugene Belley Priso, among a delegation of
about 40 clinicians. Three cases were identified on the ward
and discussed: pregnancy and cardiac pacemakers, peripartum
cardiomyopathy and postpartum cardiomyopathy. This activity
took place in parallel with a scientific presentation of eight
abstracts by early-career scientists.
After the ‘grand rounds’, there was a symposium on
cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, chaired by Profs Sliwa,
Mocumbi and Priso. A most memorable presentation on
cardiovascular diseases in pregnancy was given by Prof Sliwa.
The burden of cardiac disease in pregnancy, common patterns
of presentation, major signs and symptoms, and contributing
factors were enumerated. This was followed by a presentation
from Prof Mocumbi ‘When should women with cardiac disease
in pregnancy give birth next?’ There were also presentations from
Prof Mboudou and Dr Balla on the challenges of cardiac disease
in pregnancy in Cameroon, and the management of diabetes in
pregnancy, respectively.
Launching the Heart of Africa
The book titled Heart of Africa was unveiled for the first time
in Cameroon and senior editors present were Profs Sliwa,
Stewart and Mocumbi, as well as associate editor Ms Kimberly
Keates.9 Prof Sliwa presented all the authors with a copy of the
book. Some of the authors present at the time were Drs Kemi
Tibazarwa, Dike Ojji and Anastase Dzudie.
National Institute of Health Fogarty Young
Researcher awards
All oral/poster abstract presentations were evaluated on scientific
merit (60%) and the quality of the oral/poster presentation (40%).
The Heart of Africa was awarded to young investigators for the best
abstract presentation. Of 20 oral/abstract presentations evaluated,
the top three rated abstracts and presenters were awarded the
Young Investigator award. Winners in order of merit were Dr
Martin Abanda, Mr Ferdinant Mbidzenyuy and Dr Essama.
Conclusion
The high burden of CVD warrants clinical research priorities
such as the need for proper record archiving, dissemination
of research findings, and preventative approaches to CVD.
Emerging diseases such as cardiac disease in pregnancy also
deserves strategies such as the establishment of good clinical
registries. Bridging the gap between specialists and general
practitioners will serve to improve the quantity and quality of
healthcare delivery and by extension, the potential attainment
of the 25 × 25 World Health Organisation objective for
cardiovascular diseases.
The Pan-African Society of Cardiology acknowledges the Mary Mackillop
Institute for Health Research, Center for Research Excellence for reduc-
ing of inequalities in cardiovascular disease burden, the Clinical Research
Education, Networking and Consultancy, and the Cameroon Cardiac Society.
We are grateful to the NIH Fogarty International Center for travel support for
the international faculty and we thank Douala General Hospital for hosting
and sponsoring the event.
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