By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
Cameroonians living with HIV/AIDS are among the over 20 million HIV positive persons in 55 countries across the world affected by the recent decision of the US President, Donald Trump, to temporarily suspend American financing for 90 days.
In a press release dated February 3, 2025, issued by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, he said a key global initiative for the fight against HIV in 55 countries, the PEPFAR programme covering over 20 million beneficiaries as well as those benefiting from the Initiative of the American President for Malaria, PMI have all been affected by the suspension.
Dr. Malachie observed that in the face of the suspension of finances for the PEPFAR and PMI programmes, the government of Cameroon, has in an urgent manner carried out an exhaustive evaluation of the direct and potential impact of the suspension on the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programmes and have engaged mitigation actions for the short, medium and long terms to ensure the continuity of activities for the fight against the three diseases.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the US government for the several years of financial and technical support to Cameroonians and acknowledged the special decision of January 29, 2025, aimed at guaranteeing continuous access to anti HIV drugs to beneficiaries during this period of strategic evaluation.
He assured the general public of government’s commitment to ensure the continuity of services against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria notably through the provision of prevention services, catering for, treatment and support to the entire vulnerable population in all health facilities and affiliated Community Based Organisations, CBOs, in the national territory. He said this is being done under the coordination of Regional Delegations of Public Health and the Regional Technical Groups of the three respective programmes (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria).
Dr. Malachie reiterated, for the attention of the general public, anticipated actions by the government to support the national fight against the diseases through the institution of the Universal Health Coverage, UHC as prescribed by President Paul Biya. He, however, noted that within a context of persistent scarcity of external financing, Cameroon has engaged in the elaboration of a sustainability plan to combat all public health problems for national appropriation.
He urged all personnel of health facilities and CDOs to continue with their daily activities of service provision for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in line with national directives enforced.