Michel Sidibe visited the headquarters of African Synergy and the Chantal Biya HIV Research Centre yesterday June 1, 2015.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, has appreciated the vision of the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB) and African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, for research to curb mother-to-child transmission of HIV and also the care and treatment given to children suffering from the disease. He made the statement yesterday, June 1, 2015 while visiting the headquarters of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering and CIRCB in Yaounde. 

At CIRCB, Michel Sidibe had the opportunity to listen to the findings of research studies carried out by CIRCB researchers on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through sites in all the 10 regions of the country. The head of the Biology Laboratory at CIRCB, Professor Céline Nkemfou, explained that since the start of the research, they have witnessed a drop of 50 per cent as far as mother-to-child transmission of HIV is concerned. Although research also revealed that the transmission of HIV from Mother-to-child is more elevated in the Adamawa and Centre Regions of the country, infected mothers who choose to provide artificial milk to their babies stand the chance of reducing the transmission unlike those who will mix breast and artificial milk. The research head noted that CIRCB will continue with the research especially in the Northern Region of the country where the transmission of mother-to-child HIV is still very high.  Michel Sidibe lauded CIRCB efforts to build economic knowledge by producing data which will help stakeholders to better implement decision to curb HIV/AIDS not only in Cameroon but Africa and the world at large.  He said harmonising research protocols will considerably reduce the transmission of mother-to-children HIV infection. UNAIDS boss lamented that HIV treatment for children is a forgotten phase as only 6 per cent of infected children have access to treatment in the African continent and a new approach is needed to reach all children who are infected.

Michel Sidibe said he feels good coming again to African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering and realising that it is changing towards a positive direction with a demonstration that the family spirit in the structure is being spread to other African countries. This, he added, to break the conspiracy of silence, stopping the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child is a win-win project and having a generation free of HIV is one of the best legacy for partners in the fight. He was accompanied in the visit by the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, the Executive Secretary of African Synergy, Jean Stéphane Biatcha and the Director of CIRCB, Professor Alexis Ndjolo.