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Presentation of the project outline
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WOMEN SECTOR PLAN FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS
The Women sector plan for the fight against HIV/AIDS concretises the multisector approach of the national strategy on the fight against AIDS, whose guidelines are: multi-sectoriality, decentralisation and contractualisation.
It actually translates the involvement of the Women Sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in response to the call by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, urging all sectors of national life to participate in the fight against this scourge, following the instructions of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA,.
CONSULT THE WOMEN SECTOR PLAN FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS
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A CALL BY HER EXCELLENCY MRS. CHANTAL BIYA
FIRST LADY OF CAMEROON
1st DECEMBER 2004: WORLD AIDS DAY UNDER THE THEME “WOMEN, GIRLS, HIV AND AIDS”
The celebration of the World Aids Day gives me the opportunity to address you and our children, in order to draw more attention on the urgent need to step up our commitment in the fight against this pandemic.
Nobody is safe; all sectors of activities and communities are affected by this scourge. Millions of persons die from this disease every year, hundreds every day, tens every hour, every minute, or even every second. AIDS is seriously threatening the future of humanity as a whole.
Closer to us here in Cameroon, an estimated one million persons are infected or affected. So many families bereaved! So many widows! So many widowers! So many orphans! !
Women and girls, here and there on the African continent, pay the high price for the epidemic. Judge for yourself: of about 40 million persons living with HIV/AIDS in the world, 28 million are found in sub-Saharan Africa and women constitute more than half.
It is common knowledge today that among youths of 15 to 29 years old in Cameroon, girls are two times more infected by HIV than boys. It is also confirmed that women, whatever their town or village, are two times more infected than men. Actually, women are more vulnerable to HIV infection.
This biological vulnerability worsens the little equitable and often precarious economic and social conditions that limit women’s ability to face the propagation of the epidemic. That is why; the role of the woman in the fight against AIDS should be recognized and reinforced. As a matter of fact, nobody is ignorant of the place of the woman in our society. Mother of society, she is the giver of birth, who feeds, brings up, takes care, educates; it is she who provides for the needs of all when difficulties threaten to breakdown the family.
Can you imagine our African society, our Cameroonian society, without these dynamic women and girls due to AIDS?
Dear sisters, dear brothers, lets, together, refute this disastrous scenario by fighting effectively against HIV/AIDS.
Considerable efforts that we hail have been made by the international community and by all national actors for two decades, towards eradicating the AIDS pandemic, but much remains to be done.
- What can we do?
Firstly: let’s ensure that the right information on prevention reaches women and girls in all corners of the country, in all social and professional organisations, religious communities, cooperatives, mutual associations, “njangis” and other associations etc.
- Secondly: let’s secure education for our children and ensure that of the teenage girl in particular; it is our responsibility as parent; it is the responsibility of the entire society.
- Thirdly: let’s avoid forcing teenage girls into early marriage, let’s banish genital mutilation practices.
- Forthly: let’s ensure that any pregnant woman can benefit from the prevention programme of mother-to-child transmission of the infection, in order to reduce to the maximum the risk of giving birth to babies infected with the AIDS virus.
- Fithly and finally: with men, our everyday partners, let’s put an end to all forms of violence against women and agree to block the way to AIDS.
Dear sisters, dear brothers living with HIV
Our President, His Excellency Paul BIYA and the government are making tireless efforts to conquer the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Cameroon. Under the auspices of the progress accomplished, this disease is no longer a fatality in our country. Hope for treatment and for a longer life span is there, admittedly, but let each and everyone continue to form an impassable barrier to snap the transmission chain of the HIV virus, by adopting responsible behaviours and multiplying sensitisation and education actions within our communities.
Mrs. Chantal BIYA
Wife of the Head of State
Founding President of African Synergies
Against AIDS and Sufferings
Founding President of the Cameroon Circle of Friends
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