Members of Cameroon's National Committee for the Fight Against AIDS (CNLS) convened in Yaoundé on April 23 for their first statutory session of 2025, presided over by Public Health Minister Malachie Manaouda. A key announcement during the meeting was a reported decrease in HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country. According to the latest data, prevalence fell from 2.7% in 2023 to 2.3% in 2024, a trend authorities hope will be validated by a field survey initiated in August 2024.
The CNLS attributed this decline largely to the implementation of a new HIV testing algorithm last July. Aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the revised protocol now requires three consecutive reactive tests to confirm a new HIV-positive diagnosis, up from the previous standard of two. This adjustment aims to minimize false positives and enhance the accuracy of testing procedures.
Committee members also highlighted significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents living with HIV. This improvement is credited to a more consistent distribution of condoms and intensified awareness campaigns specifically targeting younger populations.
Health officials reiterated their commitment to achieving the "triple 95" targets by 2030. These goals entail ensuring that 95% of individuals living with HIV are aware of their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of individuals on treatment achieve an undetectable viral load.
Michel Ange Nga