Stakeholders call for stronger legislation, reduced barriers and faster adoption of new technologies to sustain gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
For decades, the fight against HIV/AIDS was largely defined by ensuring that people living with HIV could access life-saving treatment. Today, as Cameroon records important progress in controlling the epidemic, the response is evolving from simply providing medicines to removing the barriers that prevent people from testing, accessing care and staying on treatment.
This new direction was at the centre of a parliamentary capacity-building seminar on the HIV/AIDS response in Cameroon, at the National Assembly, where Members of Parliament, health stakeholders and development partners examined the progress made, emerging challenges and the innovations shaping the future of the response.Presenting the current state of the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Permanent Secretary of the National AIDS Control Committee (GTC/CNLS), Dr. Fokam Joseph, highlighted the major changes that have transformed the response compared to previous years.From a period when HIV treatment was associated with complex care pathways and heavy medication burdens, advances in science and health systems have made management of the disease more effective, accessible and patient-centred.
However, experts noted that the remaining challenges are increasingly linked not only to medical issues, but also to social, legal and economic barriers.
To Bakkali Taoufik, Country Representative of UNAIDS, the new global AIDS strategy provides guidance for countries to address obstacles identified within communities.Among these barriers, he pointed to stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV in schools, workplaces and communities. He stressed that dialogue with decision-makers, including parliamentarians, is essential in influencing legislation and removing legal barriers that limit access to health services.
Cameroon’s progress was acknowledged, particularly in improving access to HIV services and reducing financial barriers through policies aimed at removing user fees. However, sustainability remains a key concern as global funding environments continue to evolve.“The last mile requires a lot of effort,” Bakkali Taoufik noted, explaining that reaching people who are unaware of their HIV status, those recently exposed to infection or populations that remain difficult to reach will require new approaches and stronger community engagement.
The involvement of parliamentarians is therefore considered strategic. Through legislative action, they can help create policies that protect vulnerable populations, support sustainable financing and strengthen the national response.
Claudette Chin
