The Coalition of Community Affairs against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculoses, known by its French acronym CCA/SIDA organised a seminar in Douala at the Chamber of Commerce Conference room on September 10. The seminar was meant to inform and educate members and communities and the public on the outcome of a seminar which took place in Mexico from 3-8 of August 2008, by the International AIDS Society on the fight against HIV/AIDS, of which they participated.

Speaking during the workshop, Dr Dina Nfon Priso who is Permanent Secretary of the CCA/AIDS gave a situation of the epidemic in the world, talking about the challenges. She also talked about new approaches to the fight against this pandemic with emphasis based on the local community. Talking briefly on the seminar in Mexico, they looked at new challenges to step up the prevention and the protection of AIDS in local communities. The objective she said was to promote scientific excellence and inquiry and to encourage individual and collective action and dialogue to foster accountability. By this the local community has to be integrated in the international policy for the fight against the pandemic. New research has to be provided based on evidence so as to accelerate and scale up HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment service, integrate HIV/AIDS response into existing systems and health programmes and to ensure long term sustainability of the response. Certain issues, she said, must be considered, such as globalisation, science and technology, health systems strengthening and integration, stigma discrimination and social justice.

Focusing on the local communities, leaders will have to mobilise, make decisions that would favour the communities, influence and impact local communities. This will be done by addressing human rights and social justice, bringing together community and evidence based science, demand accountability and action, and ensure long term legacy for the region.

Other topics by other speakers during the seminar in Douala had to do with fight against stigmatisation and discrimination, presentation of work by community initiative among others.