Dr. Valirie Ndip’s Cardiovascular Research Journey

“After God, who created the world and all that is within it, comes the medical doctor”. This was part of the introductory statement from Akaba James - the Country Director of Open Dreams, before ushering Dr. Valirie Ndip to the podium at the Open Dreams Center in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Dr. Valirie Ndip presenting

After years of studying medicine and researching heart failure in the UK for a PhD award, Dr. Valirie Ndip returned to Cameroon, driven by a mission to translate his global experience and acquired knowledge into life-saving actions. Dr. Ndip's passion for studying heart health was developed during his early career in Oku, in the North West Region of Cameroon, after diagnosing a 70-year-old man with heart failure who could not afford his prescribed medication. 

During the session, Dr. Ndip decoded the multifaceted causes of heart failure, including age, obesity, hypertension, and untreated infections like rheumatic heart disease.

His vision extends beyond research papers, where he is prolific in publishing. He founded a Cameroon-based association uniting researchers, healthcare workers, and policymakers to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery. The main goal is to partner with the government and NGOs to expand access to affordable diagnostics and medications, launch public health campaigns to prevent the disease, and train local professionals in cutting-edge cardiac care.  

The session was closed with Senior Program Facilitator, Nteta Philip, applauding Dr. Ndip’s homecoming to inspire the younger ones aspiring to delve into medical research, especially on tropical diseases. “Some of our graduates are not very engaged; they do not come home to share global knowledge with us”, he said, while urging Dr. Ndip's to sustain the grassroots engagement. "PhD is not the finish line. Keep researching and go higher so that others who have had theirs can continue working harder,” - he concluded.

Dr. Ndip's work shows that research without impact is just ink on paper. However, when we marry knowledge with love for our people, miracles begin. Let's go for miracles.

Dr. Valirie Ndip and Akaba James, moments before the presentation

Dr. Ndip is of the second cohort of HALI Commonwealth PhD Scholars. He just completed his PhD Program at the University of Oxford. He is one of the medical professionals who oversee the Aviva Initiative at Open Dreams and also co-leads the "OD Health" mentorship program, guiding young medical doctors striving to reach the top of the ladder in their careers.

Atagio Bruel’23 | Open Dreams