The initiative, known as “Pediatric Surge,” plans to significantly increase the number of children who have access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment in Cameroon.
“This pediatric case finding initiative aims to accelerate the identification of thousands of children living with HIV, in order to connect them with life-saving treatment. As part of this initiative, we are also working with the Ministry of Public Health to prevent mother-to-child transmission,” says Christopher J. Lamora, the United States Ambassador to Cameroon, whose country claims 617.5 billion FCFA (one billion dollars) in health and humanitarian aid to Cameroon over the last two decades.
The Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie, affirms that Cameroon has recorded notable progress in the fight against HIV-AIDS which has notably contributed to reducing the prevalence rate from 2.7% in 2018 to 2.1% in 2023. But this progress above all reflects the situation of the country’s adult populations. Despite efforts and strong political commitment to the fight against pediatric HIV, coverage of antiretroviral therapy among children remains low. The minister also indicates that the situation among children and adolescents, who are part of vulnerable groups, “remains worrying”, even though the country is committed to putting an end to pediatric AIDS by 2030.
“Only 39.5% of children under 15 and 45% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 living with HIV are identified and put on antiretroviral treatment,” declared the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). ), Nadine Perrault, during the National Forum on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission held last September in Yaoundé. More than a third of deaths linked to HIV-AIDS occurring in 2022 in Cameroon concerned children and adolescents, while they represent only 5% of people living with the disease, she said then, noting the urgency of strengthening access to treatment and limit HIV-related mortality among children and adolescents.
For the Minister of Public Health, the initiative launched on April 24 in partnership with the American Embassy is “one of the major opportunities in accelerating the care of children living with HIV, based on research active cases and their links to care within health facilities and communities.” Beyond HIV, pediatric case finding will also help screen children for tuberculosis and malnutrition and ensure they are up to date with essential vaccines, we learn.
