Panafrican News Agency - November30, 2001
The committee has embarked on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and STD, the promotion of low-risk sexual behaviours among women and university students, and prevention of transfusing HIV-contaminated blood.
It said the actions are intended to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, incite voluntary screening and reduce STD infection by 50 percent per year until 2003.
It also plans to care for people living with the HIV virus by protecting and promoting their welfare and rights.
With "100 percent condoms" concept, the committee intends to promote a "saving reflex" among soldiers, university students, civil workers and prostitutes by distributing condoms to them.
The scheme encourages voluntary screening and promotion of a communication strategy that would imbue behavioural change in youths.
Meanwhile, access to AIDS drugs is a major challenge facing the Cameroonian government.
But the government announced a drastic reduction in the prices of anti-retrovirals to 22,000 CFA francs for a monthly dose after recently signing an agreement with an Indian pharmaceutical firm.
Most people are unable to buy anti-retrovirals costing 50,000- 65,000 francs per person and per month at some public health centres for the management of AIDS patients.
However, some specialists have refused to prescribe the drugs unless the results of that combination have been assessed.
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