Chantal Biya, A Veritable Health Provider

Prioritizing high-level mother-to-child medical care, intensifying the fight against HIV especially amongst the youths, facilitating access to advanced medical services, supporting major research programmes as well as providing specialised assistance to women in the face of various pathologies that overwhelm the womanhood, briefly highlights the health activities of the First Lady of Cameroon, Chantal Biya.

Her several institutions such as the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproductive Teaching Hospital (CHRACERH) in Yaounde, the African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering, the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), and the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF) testify to the First Lady’s devotedness at improving healthcare to all Cameroonians especially women and youths. The rigour with which Chantal Biya has used in curbing the HIV pandemic seems to gain momentum as years go by.

Being the brain behind the creation of African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering, the non-governmental organization comprising First Ladies from Africa and other continents has taken the fight against HIV to higher heights. The non-governmental organisation continuously assists AIDS affected vulnerable children, distributes food items to orphanages, provides material and financial support to associations and NGOs involved in the fight against AIDS and yearly organises the campaign known as AIDS-Free-Holiday to sensitize the youths during the holiday period on the HIV pandemic.

The AIDS-Free-Holiday campaign, which is in its 16th edition, is one of the major platforms the First Lady has used to reduce the impact of the HIV pandemic amongst youths, who are highly affected by the disease.

The First Lady’s vision to see that the HIV pandemic is completely eradicated resulted in huge advocacy initiated by her through African Synergy. Such efforts culminated in the creation of the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management on February 23, 2006. This humanitarian action from the First Lady was given worldwide attention following her distinction as a Special Ambassador of UNAIDS.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe personally made the announcement at Unity Palace in Yaounde...