The First Lady Madam Chantal BIYA presided over the ceremony to launch the rotaviral diarrhea vaccine at the Yaounde multisport complex on Friday 28 March 2014. The multisport complex was jammed to capacity with over 6 000 invitees, women and school children who turned up to witness the milestone occasion.

Several speakers including the Government Delegate to the Yaoundé City Council, Mr. Gilbert NTSIMI EVOUNA; the Coordinator of the United Nations system in Cameroon, Madam NAJAT ROCHDI; the French Ambassador to Cameroon, Madam Christine ROBICHON; and the Deputy CEO of the GAVI Alliance, Madam Helen EVANS; all lauded the significant contribution of vaccination to mother and child health and appealed to Cameroonians to have all children vaccinated.

In the keynote address of the event, the Minister of Public Health Mr. André MAMA FOUDA heartily thanked the First Lady for her presence that gave the occasion a greater magnitude. He equally recognised the assistance of both technical and financial partners, especially the Gavi alliance, for making the vaccination programme of Cameroon viable. The Minister assured Cameroonians that the instructions of President Paul BIYA that all Cameroonian children should be vaccinated is being carried out by the Government which will spare no effort to ensure that all children are covered. The Minister also called on all Cameroonian parents to play their role and ensure that they bring their children for vaccination.

The First Lady kick-started the vaccination champagne by vaccinating four babies, while the Minister of Public Health, the Secretary of State for Public Health and other dignitaries also vaccinated some children.

The ceremony took place with interludes of music and entertainment from La Voix du Cenacle, X Maleya, OTTOU Marcelin, and others.