HIV/STIs: CIRCB Edifies Mefou and Akono Population

In order to fight against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the First Lady of Cameroon, Chantal Biya has extended her “Social Vaccine” campaign to the locality of Ngoumou in the Mefou and Akono Division in the Centre Region. In prelude to the launch of the campaign, yesterday, April 25, 2019, a team of experts the International Reference Centre “Chantal Biya” for Research on the Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS (CIRCB) was at Ngoumou to edify the educational community on HIV/STI with pedagogic and ICT tools that will help create awareness among the populations.

During the educational talk that gathered some 400 pupils and students from 10 schools in the division, the Director General of CIRCB, Professor Alexis Ndjolo, told the population that they have come with complete pedagogic kits for teachers to carry out teaching and learning in order to develop basic skills in pupils for the fight against STIs and the HIV/AIDS. The social vaccine, he added, is one of the several actions initiated by the First Lady to improve on the lives of the population. This action, which has been validated by a team of researchers, medical experts, educationists and digital operators, will help reduce the burden of the disease which is ravaging many young people in the Centre Region.

While discussing with pupils and students, facilitators understood they were not dealing with novices when it comes to sex education. The children had clear answers to questions such as What is HIV? What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? What is STIs? How is it transmitted? How to prevent HIV/AIDS? Because sexual relationship does not concern children, pupils were told that they should not play with sharp abandoned objects for this will expose them to HIV or Hepatitis. Students were also encouraged to report situations where they are raped or involved in un pro...