Yap Boum II | Deputy Head of the Mpox Response
Africa CDC

Professor Yap Boum II, currently serving as the Deputy Incident Manager for the Continental Mpox response for Africa CDC. He is the former Executive Director of the Institute Pasteur of Bangui in the Central African Republic, is a distinguished figure in the field of public health. In this role, he has supported His previous role as the Representative of Epicentre, the research arm of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), underscores his extensive experience in healthcare research. Prof. Boum II's expertise spans a wide range of infectious diseases, including TB, malaria, HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19, and he is actively involved in teaching Public Health and Microbiology across Africa. He played a pivotal role as the Chief of Operations for the COVID-19 response in Cameroon. Prof. Boum II is deeply committed to promoting equity and the involvement of African scientists in Global Health. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his co-founding of several impactful initiatives: Kmerpad, which focuses on empowering women through washable sanitary pads; iDocta and Gwhéha, digital platform that brings healthcare services closer to the community; and Homegrown Solutions for Health (HS4Health), dedicated to finding innovative health solutions in Africa. The Village, a digital platform from HS4Health, leverages AI to connect scientists and decolonize Global Health. Prof. Boum II's academic credentials are as impressive as his professional achievements. He holds an engineering degree from the School of Industrial Biology in Cergy, a Master's in Microbiology from the University of Paris XI, and a PhD in Microbiology from the same institution. Additionally, he has an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Liverpool and an MBA specializing in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from the University of Cape Town. His vision for a healthy and prosperous Africa, underpinned by local resources and equitable partnerships, drives his continuous efforts in the field of public health. Prof. Boum II's work not only contributes to the immediate improvement of health outcomes in Africa but also inspires future generations of African scientists and healthcare professionals.