BY SOLANGE TEGWI
If acquiring a deadly disease was a competitive entrance examination, no right-thinking person will ever venture to enroll, Dr Ketchaji Alice, Chief of service for the fight against HIV/AIDS int the Ministry of Public health has said.
She was talking recently during an interview with The Post.
According to her, there are unforeseen mishaps that unexpectedly cross path or that of loved ones as they journey through this imperfect world to a pictured promised place of perfection or eldorado called paradise.
“We pick germs, viruses and even demons along the dirty unsterilized streets, but that doesn’t mean life has ended. Whatever the name of the disease one acquires, be it HIV AIDS, Hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc, it doesn’t matter as the effort we put in to stay healthy and protect our children” she said adding that “That is why the government of Cameroon joining its voice with the media and other stakeholders create awareness on and to advocate for our children and unborn babies.”
Every pregnant woman, the doctor urged, should test for HIV and others and if tested positive, should be intentional enough to follow treatment to protect the lives of their precious unborn babies so they can be born free of the disease.
But if it happens despite measures taken the child is still born infected, she advised that, parents should make an effort to follow the child’s treatment by respecting doctor’s rendezvous and also ensuring child takes antiretrovirals and in the right dosage.
Dr Ketchaji Alice said despite many strategies and interventions put in place in Cameroon, the management of children of less than 15years is still a public health issue compared to adults. “Looking at the prévalence of HIV/AIDS in the general population, you will see that it has dropped from 2004 to 2017.” She said but health indicators by 2024 reveal that more than 35 percent of children were not identified, meaning those children are living in the communities with HIV but not identified.
To her, those whose health statuses were identified more than 80 percent were put on treatment and more than 30 percent have their viral load suppressed.
In 2023 and early 2024 a national activity called Pediatric Search was launched. This is a concept put in place to increase the pediatric indicator in Cameroon. It was an activity within all health districts, mostly within communities. They work with the community leaders to get the list from health facilities of mothers living with HIV that delivered in the health center but didn’t come to test the child. From this, the number of children can be traced and taken care of, so that their health follow up can be very efficient.
