Against All The Odds: Doctorate Charts New Path For Development In Crisis-Hit Cameroon

December 27, 2025, Yaounde, Cameroon - In the quiet halls of the University Institute of International Development, IUDI Yaounde, on December 27, 2025, a personal victory resonated with profound professional significance. Mrs. Lucy Mengla Chenny epouse Kimeng stood before a jury of distinguished scholars to defend her doctoral thesis, a feat that marked the culmination of a nearly decade-long journey marred by personal loss, regional conflict, and the daunting challenges of retirement.

HIV/AIDS, Gender Incorporation
Successfully defending her thesis to score of 80% (16/20), Mrs. Kimeng was awarded a PhD in International Development. Her research, titled “Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and Gender for Sustainable Development in Development Institutions in Donga-Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon,” sheds a critical light on the intersection of health, gender equity, and institutional sustainability in one of Cameroon's most volatile regions.

A Rigorous Academic Pursuit
The academic milestone was achieved under the academic oversight of the University of Maroua, in partnership with American institutions, including William Carey University and Christian Promise University. The jury, chaired by Rev. Dr. Fon Wilfred, had as examiners Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne and Dr. Peaceful Helga Jam. With others being Dr Manyim Mimb Zacharie, IUDI Administrator and Dr. Keyeh Emmanuel, the secretary. 
The work was supervised by Prof. Njamnshi Alfred Kongnyu and Prof. Nsagha Dickson Shey - who were both present at the defence. They guided Mrs. Kimeng through a complex investigation into how development institutions in the North West Region handle two critical pillars of modern progress: the fight against HIV/AIDS and the empowerment of women.

Uncovering The Gaps In Donga-Mantung
At the heart of the research was a probing inquiry into how development agencies - ranging from health facilities to agricultural estates - integrate (or "mainstream") HIV/AIDS and gender issues into their core operations. The goal was to ascertain how these factors influence susceptibility to infection and vulnerability to the impacts of AIDS, thereby determining whether these institutions promote or prevent sustainable development.

Stark Picture Of Disparity
Mrs. Kimeng’s findings paint a stark picture of disparity. While the importance of mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and gender is widely acknowledged as crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the reality on the ground in Donga-Mantung Division tells a different story. "Despite its importance, development institutions in the North West Region... were not properly doing this," the study concluded.

Baptists In The Lead
The research highlighted a significant gap between health institutions and other sectors. According to the data, health institutions - specifically the Baptist Hospital, Ndu (formerly Baptist Health Centre, Ndu) the District Hospital Ndu, and the Regional Hospital Annex Nkambe (formerly Nkambe District Hospital) – demonstrated a relative frequency of 67% in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS internally. In stark contrast, agricultural institutions lagged behind at 13%, while financial and network/partnership institutions scored a mere 10% each.
Standing out as a beacon of best practice was the Baptist Hospital in Ndu, which achieved an outstanding score of 80% in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, whereas some non-health institutions scored a shocking zero.

The Human, Social Cost
Beyond the statistics, the thesis delved into the human cost of institutional neglect. Mrs. Kimeng found that the institutions were often more affected socially than economically. Staff members living with HIV/AIDS faced harsh conditions; absence for just three days could lead to termination, and many were denied leave or adequate care.

Unhappy Workers 
The study revealed a disgruntled workforce, noting that "workers were generally very disgruntled" and institutions "did...