Health and Well-being Week
GABONESE BIODIVERSITY: A SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Gabonese Republic
Gabon, a country with 80% forest cover, is home to over 7,000 plant species spread across 22 million hectares, including 13 national parks. This natural heritage has been used for centuries to heal, nourish, and enhance beauty. Today, these ancestral know-how and practices are being modernized: capsules, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics now offer innovative responses to global health challenges (metabolic diseases, stress, mental health, aging). How can Gabon position itself as a global leader in natural health innovation by showcasing its medicinal plants, nutraceuticals, and natural cosmetics, transformed according to international standards?
Discussion
- Well-being
- Healthy life expectancy
- Regenerative medicine/cell, therapy/gene therapy
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | To be determined |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Others |
Reservations are required for this programme.
Booking typically opens with the '2-month advance lottery.' Click below for details.
* Arrive early; latecomers may not be admitted.
For more information about making a reservation to watch a programme.
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
-
Track Programme
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.06.29[Sun]
18:00 ～ 20:30
(Venue Open 17:30)
-
- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
6:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.:
▶Introduction and presentation of the programme (MC) (3 min)
▶Welcome address by Ms Nina ABOUNA, Commissioner General for Exhibitions in Gabon (5 min)
▶ Speech by Prof. Adrien MOUGOUGOU, Minister of Health (5 min)
6:17 p.m. - 6:22 p.m.:
▶Screening of the film ‘The production of capsules from psychoactive medicinal plants’ (5 min)
6:30pm – 8pm: Conference: ‘The contribution of psychoactive medicinal plants to mental health care’
Moderator: Expert from the Ministry of Health (7 min)
Speakers:
▶Presentation by Dr. Yoann MBOUSSOU ‘Use of bark capsules as an adaptogen for mood, sexual and asthenic disorders’ (15 min);
▶ Video testimony and experience sharing (1 min 30 sec)
▶Presentation by Prof. H-P BOUROBOU BOUROBOU ‘Traditional Gabonese treatment of drug addiction using plants: 3 clinical cases’ (15 mins);
▶Video testimony and experience sharing (1 min 30 secs)
▶Testimonial by Ms Wilma SICKOUT ASSELE (10 mins)
▶Presentation by Thai expert (7 min);
▶Q&A (20 min)
▶Summary of discussions by the moderator (10 min)
8:10 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.:
▶Tour of the Gabon Pavilion and networking cocktail reception at Center Stage Commons C
Cast
Speakers
Adrien MOUGOUGOU
Minister of Health of GABON
Born on November 24, 1973, in Mouila, Ngounié Province, Professor Adrien MOUGOUGOU obtained his Baccalauréat (Science series D) from Collège Saint Gabriel in Mouila. He enrolled at the University of Health
Sciences, where he earned a Doctorate in Medicine in 2004, followed by a Specialized Studies Diploma (DES) in Urology-Andrology from Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar,
Senegal, in 2013. He later obtained a Master’s degree (Master 2) in Clinical Research in 2021.
Between 2001 and 2020, he held several positions and ranks of increasing responsibility: Head of interns at the University Hospita Center (CHU) of Libreville; Assistant Clinic Chief in the Department of Surgery and Surgical Specialties/Urology-Andrology; Assistant Lecturer in Urology accredited by the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES), grade A; and Head of the Teaching Unit in Uro-Nephrology.
In 2022, the urologist surgeon was admitted to the CAMES Aggregation Examination and achieved the rank of Associate Professor (Maître de Conférences Agrégé) in Urology-Andrology.
Professor Adrien MOUGOUGOU, who has held numerous key responsibilities at the CHU of Libreville from 2004 up until his appointment to the Government, served as President Physician in General Surgery; President of the Medical Commission of the Hospital; Head of the COVID-19 Response Unit; Coordinator of the Multipurpose
Operating Room; Head of the Urology Department.
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Dr. Yoan Michel Mboussou
Microbiologist committed to sustainable development
I am Dr. Yoan Michel Mboussou, a medical microbiologist who is passionate about medicine and committed to sustainable development. Trained in medicine in Bordeaux and on Reunion Island, I have benefited from high-quality training in international medical standards, while remaining closely connected to the realities of health and development in Gabon.
My dual French-Gabonese culture has allowed me to develop a broad vision of health and its challenges, enabling me to approach the challenges shared by my two countries with sensitivity and commitment. Upon returning to Gabon, I founded the Ecolab practice with the aim of modernising the medical testing sector. My ambition is to offer accessible, reliable health services tailored to local needs, while using the latest technological advances, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
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Prof. BOUROBOU BOUROBOU H.
Pioneer of Traditional Medicine and Botany in Gabon
In the heart of Gabon, a land rich in traditions and ancestral knowledge, emerges the iconic figure of Dr. Bourobou Bourobou. A distinguished Professor of Botany and fervent defender of Traditional Medicine, he embodies the fusion of ancient wisdom and modern scientific advances. Holder of a doctorate in Science from the University of Montpellier II, France, Dr. Bourobou had the honor of being a student of the legendary French botanist Francis Hallé.
His career, of immeasurable richness, has seen him hold the prestigious position of Director General of the Institute of Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Medicine (IPHAMETRA), where he tirelessly worked to advance medical research in harmony with the principles of Traditional Medicine. An ethnopharmacologist and Traditional Healer trained in the renowned institutions of Metz and in Gabon, Professor Bourobou has dedicated nearly two decades to the practice of holistic medicine. A specialist in phytotherapy, he has placed his expertise at the service of well-being, offering innovative traditional remedies to treat ailments such as diabetes, stomach pain, anemia, and sickle cell disease.
His brilliance does not stop there. As the inventor of Improved Traditional Medicines (ITMs), Professor Bourobou collaborates with Dr. Yoan Mboussou within the Tradishop Laboratory, where together, they have developed innovative herbal medicines such as Modji (Ekouk) and Mayay (Iboga), both of which have been approved with Marketing Authorization (AMM).
Recognized for his outstanding contribution to the academic world, Professor Bourobou was honored by the International Order of Academic Palms of CAMES, receiving the title of Knight, a mark of his unwavering commitment to education and research. As a researcher affiliated with CENAREST and a lecturer at several prestigious universities in Gabon — including UOB, USS, USTM, and AUM — he continues to inspire and train future generations.
Dr. Bourobou Bourobou is not merely a practitioner of Traditional Medicine; he is a pioneer, a visionary shaping the future of medicine by drawing upon the deep roots of Gabonese tradition.
His life and work are a brilliant testament to the power of traditional knowledge, blended with scientific innovation, to build a future where health and cultural heritage walk hand in hand.
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Marie Wilma SICKOUT ASSELE
Gabonese figure committed to the promotion of mental health and the arts
Marie Wilma Sickout Asselé is a Gabonese figure committed to the promotion of mental health and the arts. Born on November 21, 1974, in Libreville, she grew up in a large family marked by hardship. From an early age, she developed a passion for the arts, turning toward design and interior decoration. A self-taught artist, she pursued artistic training in Paris at Quai de Jemmapes for a year and a half.
Her life took a dramatic turn when she went through a severe seven-year depression, triggered by professional and personal difficulties, including a divorce and financial issues linked to a government contract that was not honored by the Gabonese state. This ordeal led her to isolate herself, but she found essential support in her children, her passion for art, and her faith. She considers healing to be a continuous process, emphasizing the importance of being able to speak about one’s suffering and help others.
In 2020, she published her first book, In the Name of Life…,an autobiographical account in which she shares her experience with depression. The book aims to raise awareness among African audiences about the reality of depression, which remains a taboo subject on the continent.
At the same time, she founded the Gertrude François Foundation, dedicated to supporting individuals suffering from mental health disorders. The foundation launched the project “A New Life”, which seeks to provide assistance to psychiatric patients, though the project has faced obstacles despite an agreement signed with the Gabonese Ministry of Health.
As a promoter of Kay-Anne Gallery in Libreville, she works to promote African art by showcasing works by local and pan-African artists. She describes herself as a "citizen of 54 countries" and advocates for a united Africa that takes pride in its cultural diversity.
Through her initiatives, Marie Wilma Sickout Asselé embodies resilience and commitment, using her personal experience to bring about positive change in Gabonese society and beyond.
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Health and Well-being Week
GABONESE BIODIVERSITY: A SOLUTION FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Gabon, a country with 80% forest cover, is home to over 7,000 plant species spread across 22 million hectares, including 13 national parks. This natural heritage has been used for centuries to heal, nourish, and enhance beauty. Today, these ancestral know-how and practices are being modernized: capsules, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics now offer innovative responses to global health challenges (metabolic diseases, stress, mental health, aging). How can Gabon position itself as a global leader in natural health innovation by showcasing its medicinal plants, nutraceuticals, and natural cosmetics, transformed according to international standards?
-
2025.06.29[Sun]
18:00～20:30
(Venue Open 17:30)
- Theme Weeks Studio
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
Reservations are required for this programme.
Booking typically opens with the '2-month advance lottery.' Click below for details.
* Arrive early; latecomers may not be admitted.
For more information about making a reservation to watch a programme.
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
OTHER PROGRAM
Health and Well-being Week
