Activities to mark the 9th Cameroonian month against HIV/AIDS were officially launched on November 20, 2024, in Yaounde.
Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Public Health Minister and President of the National Committee for the Fight against AIDS (NACC), chaired the second statutory meeting of the National Committee for the Fight against HIV/AIDS for the year 2024 on November 20, 2024, in Yaounde.
This meeting which was coupled with the official launch of the activities of the 9th Cameroonian Month for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, brought together UN representatives, government officials, civil society organizations, technical and financial partners, as well as religious and community leaders.
During his key address, the Minister of Public Health praised the strides recorded so far in the fight against this disease, while making calls for reinforced mobilization, in a bid to achieve the 95–95–95 HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression targets and eliminate the pandemic by 2030.
Minister Manaouda lauded efforts deployed by various stakeholders engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cameroon, which from palpable results are encouraging.
He said: “There has been a decrease of more than 26% in new HIV infections since 2018; a 16% drop in AIDS-related deaths compared to 2022. These performances, recognized by international bodies such as the WHO, UNAIDS, and PEPFAR, result from an innovative and integrated approach…”
In his address, Dr Manaouda Malachie also highlighted the introduction of a three-test screening algorithm, recommended by the WHO, and the implementation of the “Pediatric Surge” strategy, which actively targets children living with HIV.
He said despite the remarkable advancements in the fight against the pandemic, there are still a good number of challenges that need to be addressed.
Public Health Minister equally urged stakeholders to redouble their efforts to: Achieve the 95-95-95 objectives by the end of 2025 and increase domestic resources to sustain the fight against the decline in international funding.
Dr. Manaouda Malachie also insisted on the importance of community engagement, particularly among young people, often on the front line facing the risks of new infections. Reason why, he once more praised the positive impacts of the AIDS-free Holidays campaign dubbed: “vacances sans SIDA” which was initiated by the First Lady, Chantal Biya.
According to the Minister of Public Health, there is a need to provide quality health care to the population to equally achieve National Strategic Plans set up by the Head of State, Paul Biya.
He stated: “Ensuring equitable access to quality health services remains a national priority”. The path to eliminating HIV will be marked by an approach based on human rights, an issue which will be at the heart of the 37th World AIDS Day on December 1 under the theme: “Take the Rights Path”
UNAIDS Country Director, Mr. Taoufik Bakkali said the fight against stigmatization and discrimination remains one of the challenges that still finds roots in communities.
NACC’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Fokam Joseph said the fight against HIV/AIDS is part of Vision Cameroon 2035, which aims for universal access to health care.
Speaking to media practitioners, he reiterated calls for the enrollment of young girls and pregnant women in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Dr. Fokam said though the current HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 2.5%, there is a need to intensify sensitization campaigns to inform people notably pregnant women who are not yet enrolled in the UHC, that there are several benefits and packages put in place by the government in hospitals for their well-being.
The Permanent Secretary of the National AIDS Control Committee insisted on the fact that a pregnant woman who has been tested HIV positive can be followed till delivery.
Women and their babies enrolled for the Universal Health Converge (UHC) benefit from antenatal follow-up till delivery at the unique cost of FCFA 6000.
Elise Kenimbeni
