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Cameroon: North West - Bamenda - HIV Prevalence Rate Drops
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
8 August 2008
Posted to the web 8 August 2008
Yaboa Ndula
Bamenda (Mezam)
The Coordinator of the North West Technical Group in the fight against HV/AIDS, Dr. Etongue Mayer Magdalene has revealed that the HIV prevalence rate in Bamenda has dropped from 8.7 in 2004 to 6.4 in 2007. It was during the launching of the 6th edition of HIV free holiday in the Bamenda last weekend. According to Dr Mayer, the prevalence rate will be negligible if HIV positive pregnant women, who are mostly youths, respect their antenatal appointment and take antiretroviral drugs regularly as prescribed.
The HIV free holiday that brought together over a hundred Peer Educators was launched under the theme "I am a youth leader engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS". Launching the HIV Free Holiday the Representative of the North West, governor Akwo Rokesegnol recalled that the peer educators sensitized more than 50.000 youths last year with messages and fliers, brought 4111 youths to know their HIV status amongst which 231 were positive. He cautioned the peer educators to be role models, mobilize more youth to know their HIV status to assure a brighter back to school with a strong and healthy youth.
The government Delegate to the Former Bamenda Urban Council, Abel Ndeh said though antiretroviral drugs are free of charge, youths should not get involved in any irresponsible behavior that could land them in the drag net of the dreadful disease. He added that HIV is no respecter of persons and therefore pleaded with the youths to stick to the jargon "school first, sex you can wait". Life is better when one is healthy, that is the more reason why we should together bar the way to the pandemic, the government delegate added.
The over one hundred peer educators will in 15 days sensitize youths on the dangers of HIV and equally lure them to carry out the free HIV screening campaign. They will also distribute educative materials to their peers.
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