From a loss to a Legacy: Pioneer Aviva Scholar, Niegem Mbwame, defends MD Thesis

Congratulations to Dr. Niegem Mbwame, the Pioneer Aviva Scholar, on the successful defense of her MD thesis at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda. Her research was titled: “Discharge Against Medical Advice in Hospitalized Children in Four Hospitals in the Bamenda Municipality.”

Present at her defense were distinguished mentors, including renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ignatius Esene; Lum Blessing, Regional Program Coordinator for the North West; and members of the Open Dreams family, among them Ndongkeh Nelson Maineh, Ndam Courage and Iyondong Mart-Kelsey.

The Aviva Women in Science Program at Open Dreams is a unique scholarship and community health initiative dedicated to supporting female medical students and early-career female doctors who are passionate about transforming maternal and child health outcomes.

Founded in memory of Aviva Lilia Bernardo Kullberg, the beloved daughter of Open Dreams' co-founders who tragically passed away at just 10 months old from a rare and undiagnosed condition on November 18, 2020, the program stands in solidarity with countless families who have faced similar heartbreaking losses, often without clarity on how such outcomes could have been prevented.

The initiative seeks to empower women to lead in medical research, clinical care, and community health projects aimed at reducing infant and maternal mortality and improving healthcare outcomes across Cameroon and beyond.

By investing in local female leadership in healthcare, the program addresses critical gaps in diagnostics, access to care, and health education, particularly in underserved communities.

The Aviva Scholar, Dr. Mbwame & the renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Esene

Through scholarships, grants, and targeted support, the Aviva Program nurtures aspiring specialists in fields such as neonatology, maternal health, and pediatric care.

Dr. Niegem Mbwame, our first Aviva Scholar, has exemplified this vision, essentially being the face (mascot) of the Aviva Initiative. Under the guidance of a formidable team of experts—including Dr. Ignatius Esene, Dr. Noella Gwanyama (founder of Talk Pregnancy with Dr. Noella), Dr. Brenda Tanyi Tal, Dr. Jacqueline Fonkwo (founder of Youth2Youth), Dr. Larissa Simo, Dr. Valirie Ndip, and the Open Dreams Team (Cristina & Hans Kullberg, Blaise Buma, James Akaba, among others), Dr. Mbwame co-led a community health outreach that provided antenatal consultations and ultrasounds to over 200 women in the rural, conflict-affected North West region of Cameroon. She has been engaged in several community outreach programs organized by Talk Pregnancy with Dr. Noella. She has also animated the Open Dreams community with her experiences, serving as one of the panelists during the Open Dreams 10th Anniversary Celebration in July 2024, under the theme, "A Decade of Triumph".

Each December, Open Dreams organizes Aviva Week, our signature event that unites the entire Open Dreams Community in solidarity with families in hospitals across Cameroon. The event provides financial assistance to families with babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) during the holiday season and raises awareness about maternal and infant health challenges.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Mbwame’s achievements and remain committed to the continued growth of this life-changing initiative. Every child deserves a chance to thrive. This is a belief we hold firmly at Open Dreams. Dr. Mbwame's success is not only a personal triumph but a big win for the Open Dreams Family and a beacon of hope for countless mothers and children across Cameroon.

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