To reduce dependency on funders: Rights commission urges gov’t to strengthen funding to tackle HIV/AIDS.

The recommendation was in a statement Monday December 1, to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day, which was commemorated under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”.

The statement was signed by the vice chairperson of the rights commission, Dr Galega Gana Raphaël, on behalf of the institution’s chairperson, Prof James Mouangue Kobila.

The commission lauded the efforts that have been made by the and its partners in enhancing the fight.

It notably cited the 23rd “AIDS-Free Holidays” where some 670 young peer educators were mobilised in a nationwide campaign earlier this year, which reached close to five million young people through activities ranging from media interventions, social media campaigns, educational talks, community mobilisation and other similar initiatives.

Besides the holiday campaign, which was held under the theme “Zero new HIV infections among young people, that’s our challenge for 2030”, the rights commission equally hailed the June 19, 2025 launch of the multisectoral initiative, PETVISIDAME, at the Batouri Health District in the East Region by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in partnership with the government and the Islamic Development Bank.

It said the initiative, which centres on maternal and child health and the fight against HIV/AIDS, demonstrated a significant advancement in service delivery models for vulnerable populations in remote areas, thereby boosting access to vital HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health services.

Despite counting the numerous positives, the commission insisted that much ground still remain uncovered in the country in efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS.

It cited what it described as the continued social prejudices faced in the fight, lack of accurate information, disturbing vulnerability for most at-risk groups, particularly women, young people, prisoners and sex workers.

The institution also named loopholes ranging from concern that some people living with HIV fail to engage in regular follow up due to stigma or the lack of support and the body’s concern about the situation of healthcare providers in insecure areas, especially nurses and doctors who, it said are often victims of assault and kidnap. 

It also cited territorial disparities in access to antiretroviral treatment, which, the commission argues, adds to constraints caused by difficulties relating to the financial sustainability of health programmes and transparency of support systems. 

Urges wide-ranging, stronger engagement as solution

The rights commission also argued that for more meaningful progress to be registered in tackling the health challenge, the government and its partners should strengthen their engagement in the fight.

On the steps that the government must take, the commission emphasised, is the need for the state to strengthen national funding to reduce dependence on international funders. 

It said the ministries of public health, social affairs, justice and communication, and the National AIDS Control Committee “should prioritise sustainable funding and implement targeted policies to ensure uninterrupted access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services, particularly for vulnerable and marginaliszed populations”. 

This, the body further stated, “while strengthening measures to eliminate stigma, discrimination and legal or social barriers that hinder the realisation of their rights to health, equality and social protection”. 

It enjoined the Ministry of Public Health to “guarantee universal, permanent and free access to antiretroviral treatment, improve the territorial distribution of testing and treatment services” and “further integrate a human rights-based approach into public health policies”. 

Enter parliament, judiciary

The commission urged the parliament to boost the parliamentary oversight of public health policies to ensure that they strengthen the legal framework guaranteeing non-discrimination based on HIV status and “vote stable budgetary allocations for HIV care in the finance law, given the current funding crisis affecting AIDS response programmes”. 

It urged the judiciary to ensure that its authorities take decisive step in ensuring effective sanctions for acts of discrimination, breaches of medical confidentiality, and institutional harassment against people living with HIV and also make similar efforts in raising awareness among magistrates on the rights of HIV/AIDS carriers.

Healthcare actors, local communities…

Health personnel and hospitals, were, on their part, urged by the commission to enhance confidentiality in the management of medical data, provide additional training to healthcare workers on the principles of medical ethics and human dignity.

Local communities are among others urged to promote awareness in schools and community environments and encourage voluntary and non-stigmatized testimony from people living with HIV.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3645 of Thursday December 04, 2025