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NORTHWEST REGION: STAKEHOLDERS EVALUATE 2021-2023 NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS.


Stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases have resolved to double efforts to ensure the rate of new infections reduce by 60 percent as well as curb HIV –related mortality by 70 percent and improve on the quality of life of persons living with the disease.

Mr. Marceliout Djunang, Rep. Governor, NWR

They took the resolute commitment at the end of a three-day workshop that held from the 26 to the 28 of January 2023 with the aim of consolidating the evaluation of the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP), 2021-2023. This workshop was chaired by the Representative of the Governor of the North-West Region, Mr. Marcelious Djounant, Head of Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs Division, at the Northwest Governor's Office. 

Statistics presented at the workshop show HIV remains a public health problem in Cameroon, with 2.7% of the population infected. In the Northwest region 4% of the population is HIV infected. Generally, women have a higher HIV prevalence than men. Cameroon has made several long-term plans to respond to the HIV epidemic, with the current being the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP)2021-2023.

To the North-West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Che Soh Kingsley, these figures show that the region is on the right path in its response against the pandemic though the regional prevalence rate is still above the national rate.

Despite these improvements, many challenges remain at the programmatic and financial levels to achieve the set targets and accelerate the implementation of strategic interventions that should lead Cameroon towards the elimination of the epidemic by 2030.


Thus, it is in view of taking stock of the activities carried out the previous years and to project into the future while appreciating the progress made in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan to fight against HIV, AIDS and STIs 2021-2023 that the various stakeholders met to brainstorm.

 


During the meeting, the 2021-2023 National Strategic Plan was evaluated. Participants were reminded that the plan is aimed at ensuring the reduction by 60 percent of new infections, by 70 percent in HIV-related mortality, improve by 50 percent the quality of life of people infected and/or affected by HIV and increase by 50 percent the quality of governance of the national response by the end of 2023.

 

(C)Photo Ngum Delphine, intern RTG HIV NW.  Group 2@ work

(C)Photo Ngum Delphine, intern RTG HIV NW. Group 1@ work

To achieve this, the Representative of the Northwest Governor, challenged participants to significantly brainstorm so as to be able to contribute to zero new HIV infections, by setting new orientations within the framework of the priority interventions to be carried out in the field of response. They include strengthening coordination between teams of the National Committee and the technical departments of the Ministry of Public Health.

 

(C) Photo credit OJ SLIM MEDIA 2023. Dr. Che Soh Kingsley, NW RDPH

The Northwest Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Che Soh Kingsley, after  situating participants, also stressed increased coverage of anti-retro-viral among children, youth and adolescents, encouraging of self-testing as a complementary strategy aimed at increasing HIV serological knowledge, retention in the care and treatment of people living with HIV in the context of COVID-19; reduction in the incidence of HIV infection in young girls between the ages of 15 and 24 and others.

 To Dr. Che Soh Kingsley, the joint action by all actors is necessary in the fight against the disease for the attainment by Cameroon of the three 95 global targets set for 2030, namely: 95 percent of persons living with HIV know their HIV status; 95 percent of persons who know they are HIV positive have access to treatment and 95 percent of persons on treatment have an undetectable viral load.

(C) Photo credit OJ SLIM MEDIA 2023. Family photograph at the end of the workshop.

From every indication, the impacts of the NSP 2021-2023 should be felt after its evaluation by the end of 2023, in the following areas. 

  • Reduction of new infections by 65%.
  • HIV-related mortality by 70%.
  • Improvement by 50% of the quality of life of people infected and/or affected by HIV.
  • And the improvement by 50% of the quality of governance of the national response.

During the closing ceremony, Dr. Tayong Gladys, the Coordinator, RTG HIV/AIDS, Northwest, congratulated the various stakeholders for their collaborative efforts in combatting HIV/AIDS. She urged them not to relent these efforts and reminded them of their pivotal role of collecting and transmitting HIV related data. She also reminded them that the NSP which has been consolidated and evaluated, lays the groundwork for a response against HIV and STIs in Cameroon from 2021-2023. This plan is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 and brings together the government and various stakeholders in achieving this goal.

There is a lot of ignorance and prejudice about HIV and AIDS, and it is often seen as a “death sentence” whereas, HIV/AIDS IS NOT A FATALITY.        


By Stephen Ojang.

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