The Medical Research Unit of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital was established in Lambaréné, Gabon, to study major causes of disease burden in the local population. Since its foundation 99 years ago, it has become a leading African research center, specialising in pathophysiology and treatment of highly prevalent infectious diseases found in sub-Saharan Africa.
The initial goals have been broadened and now include training in clinical and laboratory research for local and international investigators.
Contents |
In future, Lambaréné will be acting as competence centre of further education for doctors in the range of drug discovery in Africa. Along with the Vienna School of Clinical Research (VSCR), a member of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnerschip (EDCTP) and the research laboratory at the Albert Schweizer Hospital, Lambaréné wants to provide a further education program for African doctors. This program will be focusing on diseases like HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. By combating these three major diseases, the centre simultaneously seeks to reduce poverty as a whole. From this location, Lambaréné will also operate as a "flying school", which – if necessary – is capable of organizing further education courses concerning drug discovery in other African countries. Shortly before his death, a US film production crew was granted permission to chronicle life at the hospital and spend time with Dr's. Schweitzer, Muntz and Friedman (Holocaust survivors). They produced the film: "The Legacy of Albert Schweitzer" narrated by Henry Fonds. Aired once, it now degrades at Warner Brother's Studio in Los Angeles. Attempts have been made to salvage and re-air the powerful film containing a "Philosopher/Peacemaker' sequence detailing the correspondence between Albert's Schweitzer and Einstein, but all such efforts have failed The hospital in Lambaréné, as well as the life and philosophy of Albert Schweitzer, also inspired in 1956 Larry Mellon of the Mellon family fortune, to found the Hospital Albert Schweitzer Haiti in Deschapelles.