23:05
WORLD AIDS DAY
CELEBRATION
Report of
Commemorative Activities by Deserve
November 30th to
December 1st, 2015
In
line with its strategy to promote health awareness and educationto the public,
Deserve Cameroon undertook some awareness campaigns to mark the 2015 World AIDS
Day Celebration in Bamenda. A team of two took part in radio sensitization on
CRTV Bamenda on November 30th, 2015 from 5 am to 6:30 am. The team was led by
the Founding President of Deserve, Desmond Nji A. who doubled as the National
Frist Vice President of the Cameroon Network and the Secretary of Deserve,
TanekeuGoula Durance.
The
President dwelt a length on the transmission of HIV in which he mentioned that
95% of transmission is through sexual intercourse. He also highlighted, while
quoting UNICEF statistics that girls are more vulnerable than boys. While
explaining the reasons why girls are more vulnerable to the pandemic than boys,
Desmond Nji decried the phenomenon in some university campuses whereby girls
are forced into sex by some lecturers against their wish before they can obtain
a pass. This was highlighted as a violation of the sexual rights of girls.
Tankeu
Durance discussed on the grassroots efforts of the Cameroon Youth Network in
sensitization and education. She advised that abstinence is best for unmarried
youth as a means of prevention.
Immediately
after this media awareness, Desmond Nji spoke to over 500 students at the
Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Bamenda about HIV/AIDS. He centred hishis
discoursein his alma mater on the theme of the World AIDS Day 2015, ‘Zero New Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero Deaths
Related to HIV.’ He called on the youth to do their HIV tests as an essential
way of reducing the spread of the virus. He also answered questions from some
youth concerning mother-to-child transmission and HIV screening.
Media Awareness
