Auteur/autrice : TimesNews2

It is one of the major announcements made on December 1, 2019 during activities marking the 32nd edition of World AIDS day in Yaounde. Public health Minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie said the national prevalence rate stands at 2.7 percent and thanks to progress achieved so far, there are about 303.000 persons on treatment as at June 30, 2019. The national prevalence rate decreases from 3.4% to 2.7%. 68% of people estimated to be carriers of the virus know their HIV status, 70% are on treatment and 22% of these persons on treatment did their viral load test with a result of 78% of the viral load suppressed. This as efforts are made to attain the 90-90-90 targets of UNAIDS by 2020 which imply that ; 90% of all people living with HIV will know their status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. He outlined the fact that, there is a drop in financing and the entire community must join efforts and speed up their work towards achieving sustainable development goal number three(3): Universal access to health. Another major announcement made by the minister is, the free of charge treatment of HIV patients in Cameroon by January 2020. In order to accelerate the fight against the epidemic and to end it by 2030. Dr Manaouda Malachie however pointed out that, government’s main concern is and remains the situation of children and adolescents, but also the fight against gender equalities.  « Women and young girls  continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. It is equally the fight against disparate destinies for the most vulnerable people who are also the most exposed. Finally the fight against stigma and discrimination, which remain an obstacle to access to services » he said. While delivering the message of Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Savina Amassari, country director for UNAIDS in Cameroon underscored the fact that, governments have a key role to play in accompanying their communities in the eradication of HIV. « Let me remind you, governments committed to at least 30% of HIV services being community-led. They also agreed that 6% of all HIV funding go to community mobilization ; promoting human rights and changing harmful laws that act as barriers to ending AIDS… So, we call on governments to open a space so that activists can do the work they do best… » Winnie Byanyima stated. United Nations’ resident coordinator, Allegra Baiocchi on her part noted the fact that the 32nd edition of World Aids day is observed on a relevant theme, being: « communities make the difference ». She said : « communities are a unique force behind the success of the HIV response. Their leadership and advocacy ensure that the response remains relevant and grounded, keeping people at the center and leaving no one behind ». Communities around the world are at heart of this response. Helping people to claim their rights, promoting access to stigma-free health and social services, ensuring that services reach the most vulnerable and marginalized, and pressing to change laws that discriminate. Yet, unmet needs remain. A record of 38 million people are living with HIV, and resources for the response to the epidemic declined by 1 Billion dollars last year, according to the message of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.   By Elise Kenimbeni

The free of charge campaigns to run from December 4 to 8, 2019, targets 189 health districts nationwide. Following the recent outbreaks in some regions of Cameroon notably the Far North where 14 cases of deaths were registered due to rubella, the government launches a 5 day intensive nationwide vaccination campaign. The campaign that gives root to the introduction of the second dose of vaccine against rubella and measles for children aged from 9 to 59 months will equally permit the administration of vitamin A and deworming with Mebendazole of children aged between 0 and 5 years. In a media briefing session held at the offices of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in the ministry of public health, it was disclosed that about 3.278 416 children will be administered vaccins during these mass campaigns. Government seeks to curb the rising outbreaks by informing in the first place, at least 95% of the population in the ten regions and to obtain the commitment and involvement of at least 80% of administrative, political, religious, traditional authorities who are in touch daily with their various communities. The number of deaths from measles in the world is estimated at 89.780 people, mostly under the age of 5. 246 deaths every day and 10 deaths every hour with regards to statistics from 2016. Deaths that occur are often as a result of epidemics as it is the case in Cameroon where between 2016 and September 2019, the number of health districts affected by measles epidemics increased from 7 to 34. In Cameroon, between 2000 and 2017, the number of deaths of children under 5 attacked by measles decreased from 5208 to 146 thanks to vaccination. It helped to reduce child deaths by 97%. According to health experts, measles is a highly contagious infectious diseases caused by a virus. Its manifestations are fever followed by the appearance of small rashes on the body, and often accompanied with runny nose, cough and discharging reddish eyes. The virus is easily transmitted from one person to another through sputum from coughing and sneezing, hands and materials soiled with secretions from the nostrils and throat of a sick person. Same for rubella which is also a contagious and dangerous disease, especially during pregnancy. Rubella  could be responsible for many spontaneous abortions or sever malformations to the future baby. It equally causes skin eruption, lymph node swollen and joint pain. It usually goes unnoticed but could be responsible for abortions, foetal death and serious malformation of newborn babies.   By Elise Kenimbeni