General Information

The Organizing Committee has selected several partner hotels of different standards where participants are advised to book rooms for their stay.

Recommended international airlines:

Badges will be issued at the registration desk and requested for entrance to the Conference Center.
Only badge holders will be admitted to scientific sessions, exhibits, meals and social events.

Many car rentals available at international airports and downtown (Yaounde and Douala). City taxis also available with fares depending on whether you ride alone (2 000fcfa) or in the company of other passengers (250fcfa).

Certificates of attendance will be issued for participants at the registration desk on the last day of the congress or sent via email upon request.

Please do not hesitate to contact the local Organizing Committee for any additional information or assistance: jm_kasia@yahoo.fr / secretariat.afsge@gmail.com / claude_noa@yahoo.co.uk / belingaetienne@yahoo.fr

Conference Center Yaounde, Cameroon, Central Africa

Country code: 237 (when calling from abroad dial 00+country code).
Electricity specification: 220 volts, European standard plugs

Prior to booking flights, registrants are strongly advised to confirm with their travel agent whether they require a visa to travel to Cameroon. Visas to Cameroon are issued at all Cameroonian embassies abroad; in the case when this does not apply please contact the Congress organizers.

Area of the country is 475.440 km2 with a population of 22 million inhabitants. Yaounde is the political capital while Douala is the economic capital and main outlet to the sea. Main ethnic groups are Bantous, Bamilékés, Bamouns, Foulbés, Kirdis… Cameroon stretches over 1.600 km from the Gulf of Guinea to Lake Chad. The country has 250 km of coastline from Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea. The highest point is Mount Cameroon, 4.070m.

The South has an equatorial climate with dense forests, hevea, palm oil, cocoa and tea fields. The West has a mild climate, rounded mountains and fertile land. It is the breadbasket of Central Africa. In the Centre, the vast Adamawa Plateau, with an elevation between 1.000 to 1.500m descending in gentle slopes towards the Sanaga Valley where the main river of the country flows. To the North, a deep and rugged fault leads to the Benoue Valley, the weather being hot and dry. The landscape is covered with savannahs and the Mandara Mountains. The dense forests and savannahs are full of fauna protected in nature reserves, Waza being the largest one.

International immunization certificate for yellow fever is requested upon arrival at the airport. Beware of malaria contamination via mosquito bites. In any case appropriate drugs are available in the country.

English is the official language of the Congress but simultaneous translation in French will be available.

The congress Secretariat and the organizers cannot accept liability for personal accidents, nor for loss of, or damage to private property of participants, either during or directly arising from the ISGE-AFSGE congress. Participants should make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.

A daily lunch, included in registration fees, is available only for registered participants.

An exhibition of medical, pharmaceutical, surgical and laboratory products will be organized in the Conference Center main hall. Companies and suppliers will exhibit their most recent innovations in the field of laparoscopic surgery and they will also be available to answer questions. Coffee, tea and lunch breaks are opportunities to visit the exhibition.

Except for strategic locations (military quarters, airports…) it is possible to take pictures, but it is advised to ask permission from third parties first.

Scientific sessions: Double slide projection and a preview room will be available during the congress.
Time: Local time is UTC + 1 hr
Video: The video system available is PAL, NTSC.
Weather: April is summer time, you should bring light clothing made of cloth cotton or linen, sun glasses, hats, sweaters for evenings and possibly a raincoat (avoid synthetic fabrics).