Cameroon has set forth a resolute commitment to eradicate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030. This groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Health, aligns with the global strategy to end AIDS as a public health menace, encapsulated in the “UNAIDS 90-90-90” targets.
The UNAIDS 90-90-90 vision encompasses achieving the following milestones: 90% of individuals with HIV knowing their status, 90% of those aware of their HIV-positive status receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of those on antiretroviral therapy attaining viral suppression.
To realize this audacious goal, the Cameroonian government has outlined a comprehensive plan anchored in three pivotal pillars:
- Prevention: Expanding access to HIV prevention services, including education, condom distribution, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with the aim of curbing the incidence of new infections.
- Testing and Treatment: Heightening the availability of HIV testing and treatment services to ensure timely diagnosis and linkage to care for all individuals living with HIV.
- Community Engagement: Reinforcing partnerships with communities, civil society organizations, and the private sector to champion HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, and to combat stigma and discrimination.
This ambitious plan’s successful implementation demands concerted efforts from the government, healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals. The government has underscored its commitment by allocating substantial resources to combat HIV/AIDS, urging all stakeholders to collaborate in pursuit of this shared objective.
Dr. Manaouda, addressing the press, emphasized, “In the context of eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030, we, as members of the national coordination and decision-making body on the HIV/AIDS response in Cameroon, have an obligation to provide concrete solutions to the concerns of our infected and/or affected fellow citizens.”
The program extends its reach to safeguard infants and teenagers, particularly focusing on preventing mother-to-baby transmission, thereby eradicating HIV at its roots.
Beyond being a humanitarian imperative, eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in Cameroon signifies a critical stride toward national development goals. By alleviating the burden of HIV/AIDS, Cameroon aspires to cultivate a healthier, more productive, and prosperous society for all its citizens.
