Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, unveiled on Wednesday, September 23, 2025, key statistics of the just-ended AIDS-free holidays campaign.
The 23rd edition of the AIDS-free holidays campaign that kicked off on July 23 was placed under the theme: “Zero new HIV infections among young people: our challenge for 2030.”
To unveil the results of this campaign that took place in all ten regions of the country with a total of 670 young peer educators, public health Minister made a press briefing on September 23, 2025, in Yaounde.
Dr Manaouda Malachie started by pointing out the importance of this campaign launched in 2003 by First Lady, Chantal Biya as an ambitious, ongoing, and sustained initiative for the benefit of both school-aged and out-of-school youths.
He equally underscored the aim of this initiative championed by First Lady of Cameroon, Mrs. Chantal BIYA, UNAIDS Special Ambassador, as one that seeks to combat sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS during the school holidays.
During this press briefing, Dr. Manaouda Malachie indicated that some progress was made in tackling certain diseases, including HIV/AIDS, from analyses and reports provided by the National AIDS Control Committee (NACC).
It was revealed that one million, nine hundred and ninety-six thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight (1,996,138) people were tested for HIV in 2024. Forty-six thousand and twenty-five (46,025) positive cases were identified, including thirty-six thousand, one hundred and seventy-one (36,171) new cases and nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four (9,854) previously known positive cases.
Dr Manaouda Malachie went further to outline the fact that young people are amongst those highly exposed in the population.
He stated: “Analysis reveals that newly declared HIV-positive cases represent 78.6% of the positive cases identified nationally. Three hundred and thirty-six (336) cases and one thousand, one hundred and eighty-three (1,183) cases were identified in the 15-19 and 20-24 age groups, respectively. We believe this is still enormous! As you can see, young people are still paying a heavy price as a result of risky behaviours such as unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, shared use of drug injection equipment, as well as a lack of information and prevention, misinformation, carelessness, and stigma.
Speaking to the media, the patron of public health seized the occasion to once more highlight the fact that some major innovative approaches were put in place since 2024 to accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS in the youth milieu. He said the introduction of voluntary and free HIV testing, combined with viral hepatitis B testing, and raising awareness among young people about Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as part of free HIV/AIDS treatment in Cameroon, was maintained and strengthened this year.
The Minister, in his address, disclosed that over 4.8 million youths were sensitised compared to last year, when we had 3.1 million youths reached.
Minister Manaouda Malachie said: “While awaiting the final consolidation of the results of the 23rd edition of AIDS-free Holidays, we must announce that approximately four million, eight hundred and two thousand (4,802,000) young people were reached through educational talks, individual interviews, social media, and media campaigns. 336,649 male condoms, 33,998 female condoms, and 117,630 lubricants were distributed. It should be noted that particular emphasis was placed on educational activities on the correct use of condoms.”
Moreover, he outlined the fact that several health services were granted during this year’s campaign, which helped to boost the results observed.
“Voluntary HIV and hepatitis B testing was among the services offered to the general population during the 23rd edition of AIDS-free Holidays.
Regarding voluntary and free HIV testing, available reports show that 274,674 people presented themselves to the teams of the ten Mobile Units in the regions during the campaign, including 158,568 women and 116,106 men. These individuals were admitted in accordance with current protocols. 26,094 individuals were successfully tested for HIV, including 15,245 men and 10,849 women. 25,964 individuals collected their results, representing a collection rate of 99.5%. 189 positive cases were identified, including 92 men and 97 women, representing a seroprevalence rate of 0.7%. Sixty-seven individuals were previously known HIV-positive cases. Of the 122 individuals who newly tested positive, 115 were initiated on antiretroviral therapy, representing an ART initiation rate of 94.2%. Similarly, those who tested HIV-positive were encouraged to enrol in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to benefit from the free services offered in the available care package…” He added.
According to the Minister of Public Health, these key results are crucial for the well-being of the entire population.
He insisted on the fact it is a call for responsibility at all levels of society and, most especially, a means for parents to wage a sustained fight against deviant behaviour, moral depravity, the use of drugs, alcohol, and other narcotic substances that could expose children to HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
Dr. Manaouda Malachie concluded his briefing by praising the numerous efforts of community-based organisations, NGOs, United Nations organisations, government institutions, and all development partners that greatly contribute to tackling HIV/AIDS in the country, as Cameroon seeks to ambitiously attain the 95-95-95 targets of UNAIDS.
Elise Kenimbeni
