The Minister of Health and the Minister of Youth Affairs launched the awareness and protection campaign for young people aged 15 to 24.

About 67,000 people in Cameroon are living with HIV/AIDS. The government, together with the African synergy against AIDS and suffering, is committed to control the spread of this disease. Awareness and prevention campaigns will be carried out in this line throughout the country during the holiday period. Last Wednesday July 31, the 22nd edition of the “Holidays without AIDS” campaign was launched under the motto “No to deviance and moral decay, yes to a future without HIV/AIDS”.

The aim is to mobilise and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among young people, particularly those aged 15-24, throughout the country by means of local communication and targeted messages. This fight is largely justified in the light of recent reports from the field, which clearly demonstrate the vulnerability of young people, especially girls.

Another battle to be waged alongside the fight against AIDS is that of risky behaviour, which young people are increasingly engaging in and which exposes them to a range of dangers, including possible infection with HIV/AIDS. The aim is to say no to deviance and moral degradation.

MOUNOUNA FOUTSOU, Minister for Youth and Civic Education, Dr Malachie MANAOUDA and minister of Public Health, took the opportunity to thank all those involved in this noble initiative, both nationally and internationally. This is a project that has been close to the heart of its initiator since it was launched in 2003. Twenty-one years on, the results are tangible, they underscored.

However, there is still a need for increased vigilance to ensure that the figures continue to fall and the threat is significantly reduced, that young people are aware of the issues and that their future leaders are healthy. With this in mind, the recruitment and training of peer educators remains a priority for the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education.