The members of the Network of Parliamentarians for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria yesterday, November 24, explored ways through which Parliament and individual members of parliament can better contribute in fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge. They exchanged ideas and acquired knowledge from experts and HIV/AIDS infected people within the framework of the commemoration of the World HIV/AIDS Control Day. The event in Parliament came ahead of the 2010 World AIDS Day, to be commemorated on December 1, under the theme, “Universal Access and Human Rights”.
The Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Mbah Ndam Joseph chaired the opening ceremony of the seminar on behalf of the House Speaker, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, in the presence of the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Health, Alim Hayatou. He said World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that the situation of the pandemic in Cameroon was hardly stabilising but stated that HIV/AIDS was no longer a fatality. Hon. Mbah Ndam enjoined the parliamentarians to come out with resolutions that favour AIDS patients.
Hon. Marie-Rose Nguini Effa, President of the Network of Parliamentarians for the Fight Against HIVAIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said the seminar was an occasion for the members of parliament to reflect on whether Cameroon could have a specific legislation on HIV/AIDS. She said WHO believes that HIV/AIDS could be eradicated by the year 2060 and for the dream to become a reality in Cameroon, both parliamentarians, government and civil society organisations must effectively contribute. The network, she said was created in 2002 and carries out sensitisation, legislation and negotiations aimed at tackling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It is for this reason that the seminar participants examined the legislative and regulatory aspects of Cameroon’s laws to see how feasible a specific law on HIV/AIDS could be adopted in the country. They equally adopted their sector plan of action for 2011 and 2012.
The UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Cameroon, Dr Mamadou Sakho said the new world strategy in tackling the AIDS scourge was reinforced policy engagement by governments, the international community and civil society organisations. The fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, he said was hampered by problems of access to treatment and prevention, absence of regulatory texts on HIV/AIDS in West and Central African countries and insufficient resources. He said the Yaounde meeting was an answer to the challenge of implementing legislations on AIDS. Mr Sakho stated that the fight against poverty could greatly be achieved by tackling AIDS that drains the incomes of families.
