Holidays Without AIDS launched in Ngaoundéré

Know your HIV status and be more responsible sexual behaviour have become the custom phrases of the peoples of Cameroon in general and youth in particular.

This was the focal point on 25 August in Ngaoundéré on the occasion of the official launch of the operation "holidays without AIDS".

More than 100 youths were gathered at the request of the Governor of Adamawa region, for the launching of this operation.

On the one hand, the objective was to explain to people the ravages of this disease, and on the other hand lead the peer educators to sensitize the populations on precautions to be taken in order not to be infected.

Statistics produced on this occasion by Dr. Arnold Onana, regional coordinator of the technical group of the fight against AIDS showed complete adhesion of the people of Adamawa in the fight against this disease.

Indeed, according to a survey carried out in 2003 in this region, only 10.9% of girls aged between 15 to 24 years reported to have been tested for HIV, compared with 8.3% of boys in the same age group. When editing "Holidays without AIDS" 2013 out of the 3675 who were screened, 61% were less than 25 years. And on this population, 114 people were HIV-positive.

This ceremony which took place Monday, August 25, 2014 and was chaired by Cyril Yvan Abondo, the Secretary General of the Governor. During this event, he recommended young people to be vigilant and to develop responsible sexual behaviour, given that the risk of infection remains standing.

"Youth, the fight against AIDS continues": this is the theme of this 12th edition. The operation is supported by the first lady, Chantal Biya, to whom the SG Governor of Adamawa paid a glowing tribute for her "total commitment" in the fight against HIV/AIDS.