Curbing HIV/AIDS: Medics prescribe healthy living to minimise infections.

Dr Ngong said AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, a virus which attacks and destroys CD4 cells, the immune system and make the body unable to fight infections. 

“In Cameroon, common signs we see are: persistent itching and skin rashes known as prurigo, white patches in the mouth we call it oral thrush, shingles herpes zoster, chronic diarrhoea, big lymph nodes, tuberculosis, and in very advanced cases, Kaposi’s sarcoma known as purple skin tumours,” Dr Ngong stated.

Medications and balanced meals, Dr Ngong said, can help people living with AIDS stay healthy, avoiding stigma and without infecting those around them.

“Take your antiretroviral medicines, ART, every day at the same time without missing doses, eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein,” she advised, adding that HIV patients must also “…attend clinic appointments regularly for check-ups and blood tests for CD4 and viral load”.

Such patients, she added, must also avoid alcohol and smoking and place extra interest on regular exercise, sleep and stress management.

Dr Ngong disclosed that around 8,500 to 10,000 patients living with HIV come every month for consultation and drugs at the Yaounde General Hospital with 11,000 patients enrolling for chronic follow-up.

He explained that: “ART is free in all public hospitals and approved treatment centres across the country. In Yaounde and other big towns, medicines are almost always available. Efforts have been made to bring treatment closer to rural areas. The main challenge now is getting everyone tested early and starting treatment immediately after diagnosis”.

To stay safe, Dr Ngong said people must use condoms correctly during sexual intercourse, reduce number of sex partners, know their HIV status and get tested regularly.

He went on that people must also avoid sharing needles, blades, or sharp objects. “Pregnant women must attend antenatal for HIV testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmission,” he said, noting that testing and treatment are free.

Civil society battle against HIV

With the World AIDS Day observed every December 1, the society and other actors are also key partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

This year, the Day was observed under the theme: “Overcoming disruptions, transforming the AIDS response”. 

In line with the Day, the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) HIV/AIDS Committee, organised a series of activities. The Regional Coordinator for HIV/AIDS at the PCC, Dr Ambe Pamela, who has been working with HIV infected persons noted that none of them wanted to have the virus.

At the Presbyterian Health Complex, PHC, Bamenda, Dr Ambe noted that: “…we have all our patients strong and healthy and they have stick to no to stigmatisation”. She advised members of the public “…not to hide because health is wealth and when you accept your situation, accept the condition you are in, you are going to live long and healthy”.

Being diagnosed HIV positive, she said, is not a death sentence. She noted that several patients have accepted their status and are following regular treatment, living regular lives.

Patients share perspective

Another patient who discovered he was HIV positive in 2010 said he was not lucky to discover his status early enough. The patient said it became difficult to inform those around him that he was HIV positive but remarked that his mother was supportive and today he is living normally.

Cynthia, 10, who got infected while her mother was giving birth to her said living with the virus is challenging but encouraged people to follow up with treatment.  

She said having gone through the challenge of dealing with the virus, she and others like her are willing to help other patients overcome.

Children who got infected during birth, she said, could be helped to, “…pick up your pieces and build them up and take it upon yourself…”. 

Cynthia also challenged infected persons to ignore whatever society is saying about their situation and focus on medical advice, medication and regular checks.

According to the 2025 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update, at the end of 2024, just before the sudden collapse of funding, communities and the government had brought down the numbers of new HIV infections by 40%. 

AIDS-related deaths, it stated, were also down by 56% since 2010. The report also noted that huge gaps in HIV prevention remains challenging with some 1.3 million new infections in 2024 almost unchanged from the year before.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3650 of Tuesday December 09, 2025