25-year-old presents path finding research on congenital heart disease to earn doctoral degree.

The thesis defended June 23 was themed ‘physical condition and quality of life of adolescents with congenital heart disease at the general hospital in Douala’. The research piece earned him an Honourable Mention, owing to its depth as well as the fact that it set a precedence, being the first ever of its kind. 

The verdict was passed by a college of academic bigwigs including the candidate’s supervisor, Prof Kamdem Félicité, an adult and paediatric cardiologist and associate lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Douala, and by Dr Bika Lele Elysée, PhD holder in Physiology.

Quizzed on his push factor, Meyanga Ngoah said it was primarily “the lack of studies in Cameroon on this subject… personally, this work has enabled me to take a major step towards a career in research alongside my profession as a doctor.”

It is his hope, he noted, that the work “… will enable many other similar studies to be carried out in Cameroon and in Africa.”

Meyanga Ngoah Jerrold  at Doctoral defense session

The process, he added, was intensive, painstaking and tough, but totally worth it: "... I am moved because it was difficult and laborious, but above all I am grateful to my supervisors, teachers, parents and fellow students,” he noted. 

Also known as a congenital heart anomaly or congenital cardiovascular malformation, congenital heart disease is described as a defect in the structure of the heart or great vessels that is present at birth. Experts believe the defect occurs in 8 of every 1000 live births, making it a common birth defects in the adolescent population.

Managing the condition however, remains harder in countries like Cameroon which in most instances, have substandard or very costly health care.