The U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Christopher John Lamora, reaffirmed America’s commitment to helping end HIV/AIDS in Cameroon by 2030.
Ambassador Lamora spoke at the launch of a new initiative to find and treat children with HIV, alongside Cameroon’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, on Wednesday, April 24. The event took place at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in Yaounde, symbolising the joint efforts of both countries in tackling public health threats.
“Health has always been and will continue to be one of our top priorities in Cameroon,” Ambassador Lamora said, highlighting over $617.5 billion FCFA in health and humanitarian aid provided by the U.S. to Cameroon over the past two decades. He also commended U.S. agencies for their technical assistance across various public health fields in the country.
“Our bilateral cooperation and collaborations with the government of Cameroon have produced tangible results in the health sector for the Cameroonian people and the global community,” he remarked.
Praising Cameroon’s progress in combating HIV, Ambassador Lamora expressed confidence in achieving the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal number 3.
“Undoubtedly, the threat of HIV, while different from 20 years ago, is still with us today,” he said. “The data show that in Cameroon, over 90% of people living with HIV know their status, and among those who know their status, almost all of them are receiving lifesaving treatment. The same data revealed that over 90% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. These data tell the world that Cameroon is on the cusp of becoming the first country in West and Central Africa to achieve HIV epidemic control. What an accomplishment! All of you here today should be proud of this progress.”
However, Ambassador Lamora cautioned that despite the progress among adults, there are concerning gaps in reaching children, a particularly vulnerable population.
“This is the reason why the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme in Cameroon partnered with the Ministry of Public Health to come together in a bold new approach to tackle the challenge of pediatric HIV here in Cameroon,” he explained.
“One of our key interventions this year, supported by PEPFAR through the CDC and DoD, is the National Paediatric HIV Surge, which I’m honoured to launch today with Minister Manaouda,” Ambassador Lamora announced. “This surge aims to accelerate the identification of thousands of children living with HIV and link them to life-saving treatment. Through this initiative, we are equally working with the Ministry of Public Health to prevent mother-to-child transmission.”
The paediatric surge will also involve screening children for tuberculosis, and malnutrition, and ensuring they receive essential immunizations.
“We are pleased to discover that through our partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, we have registered significant gains in the nationwide response to HIV in Cameroon,” the Ambassador said. “During the last five years, the country has rapidly extended prevention measures, care, and HIV/AIDS treatment, and Cameroon remains a leader in the fight against HIV in West and Central Africa.”
Ambassador Lamora acknowledged the significant achievements but emphasised the importance of continued collaboration. “However, I am convinced that together we will address the challenges that lie ahead,” he concluded.
They outlined that the US and Cameroon will continue to work together, thereby bringing exciting innovations to expand the reach of PEPFAR-supported services at the district level, and they also supported the Ministry of Public Health in establishing and expanding Paediatric Training Centers of Excellence to build programmatic capacities for surrounding treatment centres, among others.
“No doubt, we will encounter new challenges along the way. But I want to reaffirm to our Cameroonian counterparts and all our partners gathered here today that the United States government is committed to going on this journey with you to reach the last mile and end AIDS as a public health threat in Cameroon by 2030. And “by 2030” doesn’t mean we have to wait until 2030 to get there. I am confident that we can get there before 2030 because “impossible n’est pas Camerounais,” he stressed.
On behalf of Cameroon, the minister of public health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, thanked the US and other partners for their support in ending HIV/AIDS in Cameroon. He also stated that the Board of Directors of the Global Fund approved over 190 billion FCFA as budget between 2024 and 2026 and the transition to the three-test algorithm relating to the implementation of the new guidelines for caring for people living with HIV.
The money will be used to fight against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and the establishment of resilient and sustainable health systems.
