22nd AIDS-free Holidays : Renewed Efforts Needed

The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, has called for renewed efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS, especially among young people. The Minister was speaking at a press conference in Douala on Friday 7 September 2024 to mark the end of the 22nd AIDS-free Holidays on the national territory. During the month-long campaign, there was an increase in the number of positive HIV/AIDS cases among young people between the ages of 15 and 30.
AIDS-free Holidays is a youth awareness campaign that provides an opportunity for young people to come together and chart a course for an AIDS-free future. The campaign was originally launched in 2003 by the First Lady of Cameroon, UN Goodwill Ambassador and Founding President of African Synergies, Chantal Biya. It is the largest national awareness and prevention campaign on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS targeting adolescents and young people. Its aim is to reduce the number of new STI and HIV infections among this vulnerable population by promoting healthy and responsible behaviour, facilitating access to prevention and care services and tackling the social and economic factors that favour the spread of these infections.
The press briefing revealed that during the one-month campaign period, 198 new positive cases were registered. Of these, 170 were immediately put on treatment. The Minister said t...