Esther Hortense Murielle Dina Bell, MD
Dr Esther Hortense Murielle Dina Bell is a Cameroonian medical oncologist, public health specialist and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala. She is a recognized expert in palliative care and supportive oncology in Sub-Saharan Africa.
She holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and a Postgraduate Diploma of Specialized Studies (DES) in Medical Oncology. She also earned a Master of Public Health (MPH), a University Diploma in Clinical Research, and a University Diploma in Supportive Cancer Care from Université Paris-Descartes. In addition, she completed professional certification in Palliative Medicine with Hospice Africa Uganda.
Dr Dina Bell currently serves as Vice-President of the Francophone International Federation of Palliative Care (FFISP), President of Volunteers for Palliative Care Cameroon (VOPACA), and Coordinator of the University Diploma in Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at the University of Douala.
Over the past thirteen years, she has been a regional facilitator for the Hospice Africa Uganda palliative care initiators programme for French-speaking African countries. She initiated the establishment of the first palliative care unit at Bonassama District Hospital (Douala) with an integrated home-visit model. In 2024, she personally initiated and successfully mobilised financial support from ADESPA for the creation of the Palliative Care Unit at Nkongsamba Regional Hospital.
She played a key role in advocating for and securing authorization from the Ministry of Public Health for the establishment of the first oral morphine reconstitution laboratory at Douala General Hospital, significantly improving access to essential opioid analgesics in Cameroon, with support from the American Cancer Society and ADESPA.
Her research interests include palliative care needs assessment in Africa, supportive oncology, breast and gynaecological cancers, and socio-environmental determinants of cancer such as domestic radon exposure. She has authored multiple scientific publications in oncology and palliative care.