HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR CUBAN SCIENTIST

PENANG (Malaysia), March 25 (Bernama) -- A renowned Cuban scientist was
Wednesday conferred an honorary doctorate in science by Universiti Sains
Malaysia (University of Science, Malaysia - USM), a local public university, at
the university's 39th convocation here.

USM Chancellor Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail
conferred the award on Dr Concepcion Campa Huergo for her involvement in
developing the meningococcal B vaccine.

She was part of a team which researched and discovered the vaccine before
the scientist and her small children became the first volunteers to receive the
meningococcal B vaccine.

When thousands of Cuban children were afflicted by a major epidemic of
meningococcal B meningitis, Dr Campa, 58, was invited to join a research team to
develop the vaccine.

Within a short period of time, she became head of the research team which
came up with the only available meningitis B vaccine in the '80s and introduced
in the National Immunisation Programme for massive application in Cuba.

The use of the vaccine in Cuba and Latin American countries like Brazil,
Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay, resulted in the control of various epidemics
of the disease.

In her speech, Dr Campa said the honorary doctorate she received was on
behalf of her country, Cuban scientists and the biotechnology sector, as well as
Finlay Institute where the vaccine was developed and produced.

"For me, the degree I have received today does not represent just a reason
for happiness and pride but a commitment to really deserve it," she said.

Eight hundred undergraduates and post-graduates received their degrees at
the convocation.

-- BERNAMA