HIV/AIDS: Minister reveals adolescents account for 30% infections.

The report seen by The Guardian Post revealed a significant rise in infections among adolescents and young people aged 15-24. 

According to an official press release, a total of 8,990 youths tested HIV-seropositive in 2023.

Minister Manaouda Malachie, who doubles as the President of the National AIDS Control Committee, in the release noted that the release of the data seeks to address the misinformation surrounding the epidemic which has been going viral on the social media space.

The member of government stated that data from the National AIDS Control Committee’s 2023 annual report, revealed a rise. 

He said the development underscores the gravity of the HIV crisis facing the country's youth, particularly among adolescent girls.

Rising infections, disparity among genders

According to the minister, out of the 8,990 HIV-positive youths identified, a stark gender disparity has been noted. He said of those who tested positive, 7,115 were girls, while 1,875 were boys.

This, he regretted, highlights the heightened vulnerability of young women to the virus. 

According to the data presented by the minister, HIV incidence among girls is nine times higher than among boys, a statistic that underscores the gendered nature of the epidemic in the country. 

The report attributes the uneven burden to various socio-cultural factors that increase girls' exposure to risks, including early sexual debut, gender-based violence, and lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Going by the same release, in 2023 alone, 2,228 new HIV infections were recorded among adolescents, accounting for 25% of the cases. 

In contrast, 6,762 youths already known to be living with the virus were able to access antiretroviral therapy, a critical component in reducing the transmission of the disease. 

The number of new infections, particularly among young girls, the minister further stated calls for further examination of the barriers these youths face in preventing HIV transmission and accessing care.

Youth at the centre of response

According to the member of government, given that adolescents and youths constitute roughly 30% of new HIV infections in the country just for the 2023, there is an urgent need to focus efforts on this age group. 

He went on to call on stakeholders for stronger multi-sectoral efforts to combat the spread of HIV among young people. 

He equally highlighted the importance of campaigns like the Aids-Free Holidays, put in place by the First Lady Chantal Biya which combines both awareness-raising and practical support, such as free voluntary HIV and viral hepatitis screenings. 

Enrolment on Universal Health Coverage scheme

The minister in the release urged youth to fully enrol in the Universal Health Coverage scheme, UHC for it is ensures free HIV treatment and care for adolescents and youths. 

This, the minister said is a crucial step in reducing barriers to access for the country’s most vulnerable populations. 

According to reports from the National AIDS Control Committee, the country is currently closer to the 95-95-95 target that is 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those aware of their status are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have suppressed viral loads. 

As of December 2023, the country had achieved rates of 95.8%, 92.3%, and 89.2%, respectively.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3224 of Monday September 9, 2024