Cameroon: Cycling against HIV/AIDS

  1. Posted on Tuesday 1 July 2008 - 10:48
    Benkam
    Image of Benkam
    Elisabeth Benkam, VoicesofAfrica mobile reporter in Yaounde, Cameroon
    A local Cameroonian non-governmental organisation known as Droits de l'enfant: un livre pour chaque enfant (DELICE)has began an intensive campaign against HIV/AIDS in Obala, a small town located some 35 km from the capital city Yaounde.
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    According to Pierre D, the district doctor, 12 percent of the 121,000 Obala inhabitants are HIV-positive. The town is, which is also a crossroad linking eastern and central provinces, which is a strategic position for such campaigns.

    Pierre says that 12 percent is much higher than the national one which is 5,5 percent. He adds that the schooling generation is the most affected. At the end of the 2007-8 school year, his hospital recorded more than 300 pregnancies among young girls registered in different secondary school of the town.

    He thinks that the infection is favoured by the increase of motorcycle drivers who take advantage of vulnerable girls.

    François Nkeumi, the coordinator of DELICE who is also a teacher in Obala secondary school, says that from time to time, they receive support from agency of United nations organisation such as Unicef and UNAIDS, to carry out their campaigns.

    Last year, Unicef offered them twenty bicycles and one motorcycle which help walk through the town to educate the population notably the young people. He thinks that it's urgent to do more in Obala to reverse the situation.

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