Drug consumption, sexual misconduct, disrespect for parents and indiscipline are some of the growing problems 600 peer educators regions will be in Cameroon’s 10 during the 22nd AIDS-free Holidays.
These are rising behavioral problems the Minister of Public Health and President of the National AIDS-Control Committee @DrManaouda and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou told youths to shun as they co-launched the 22nd AIDS-free Holidays on 31st July in Yaoundé.
“If nothing changes in the behavior of youths, we will have serious problems in future. We want our youths to denounce alcohol, drugs, indiscipline, and all forms of deviant behavior which endangers their health and future,” Dr. Manaouda Malachie said.
This year’s annual campaign is holding on the theme “ No to Moral Deviances and Depravation, Yes to an AIDS-free Future.”
The ceremony to launch the AIDS-free campaign was attended by government ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, the WHO resident representative, Phanuel Habimana, the Executive Secretary of African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering, Jean Stephane Biatcha, Directors General of health structures and the CRTV Director General, Charles Charles Ndongo.
HIV/AIDS and Cameroonian Youths
About 67,000 young people, most of them aged 15-24, are living with HIV, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
In 2023, young people within this age group represented 31% of new infections, with girls being six times more affected than boys.
It’s been 22 years since some young people began cautioning their peers against the dangers of unprotected sex, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), drug consumption and deviant behaviors.
Years after the start of this youth-led campaign in 2003, the African Synergy Against AIDS and Sufferings says the prevalence of the disease in Cameroon has dropped from 5.5% to 2.7%
Most young people, including those living with the disease have now become the driving force and champions of the campaign. Seventeen-year-old Emelda Akassia is one of such youths.
“ I want to help the government to educate youths, and help young girls and boys of our generation to make sure they use condoms so that they don’t get infected with HIV. It also helps me understand what happens in real life,” she said.
2023 Spin offs
The 2024 AIDS-free Holidays comes on the heels of the 2023 edition whose achievements serve as inspiration to stakeholders.
In 2023, 1006 peer educators were recruited across the 10 regions of the country and trained to lead the AIDS-free movement. Over 600,000 youths were educated on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse through interpersonal communication and educational programmes. Over two million youths were reached through the media, and 943,773 others were educated via social networks.
With regards screening for HIV, about 15,000 youths representing 80% of young people, were screened for the disease, 244 tested positive and 84.85% of positive cases were placed on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART).
This year, stakeholders plan to preach abstinence and responsible behavior to 3.500.000 young people via the media, digital campaigns and community outreaches. They will also screen about 400,000 people for HIV and viral hepatitis B, place 95% of people who tested positive on treatment and distribute at least 500,000 male and female condoms and lubricants.
During this year’s campaign, peer educators will reinforce the message of abstinence and prevention through guidance on responsible use of social media.
“ It is important for Cameroon to have strong, conquering, dynamic, daring and healthy young people. We must find a way to encourage your peers to turn away from acts that damage the body and mind and foster HIV infections. Be role models to other youths and don’t be afraid to say no to deviant and destructive behavior,” Minister Mounouna Foutsou said.
The campaign
The three week campaign will include media outings, online campaigns, community outreach, and HIV/counseling and testing and sensitization sessions.
Young people say they will not only preach prevention but are ready carry out practical lessons on how to use condoms ,especially in high risk and communities vulnerable to HIV infections.
“My role as a peer educator is to educate the youths on methods of transmission and prevention of HIV. I will also talk about abstinence, but insist on proper use of condoms. I’m going out to practically show youths how to use both male and female condoms so that they can keep HIV at bay,” Lobeng Mouafo Joresse told CRTV Web.
AIDS-free Holidays is a youth awareness campaign that offers an opportunity for you young people to come together and chart a course for an AIDS-free future. The campaign was launched by the First Lady of Cameroon, and UN Goodwill Ambassador and Founding President of the African Synergies, Chantal Biya in 2003.
Kathy Neba Sina
