Cameroon should promote HIV self-testing
Between April 2020 and June 2022, 63.842 persons used the HIV self-testing method and 531 tested positive to the virus. Making public results of their work done in enterprises, health facilities and communities, the “Association Camerounaise pour Le Marketing Social” (ACMS) disclosed that the tests were done in the Centre, Littoral and South regions with a 4.4% prevalence rate.
Going by members of ACMS, this is a pilot phase of the HIV home testing which to them could increase individual testing and better situate the government on the prevalence rate of the disease in Cameroon. HIV self testing Africa Initiative implimented by the WHO is 2016, is an individual testing through the collection of oral fluid or blood with instant results.
Results of the study carried out in the Littoral, Centre and South regions, presented on August 31st 2022 in Yaounde, show there is a need to take this method seriously as many people shy away from hospitals.
2021 statistics from the ministry of public health reveal that over 499 thousand Cameroonians are HIV positive with 316.004 being women, 150.240 men, 33.085 children below 15 and 25.920 pregnant women. As of December 2021 the death rate due to this disease was estimated at 12.602
