HIV-Free Holidays Campaign : Ahala Population Responds Positively

Barrière Ahala junction in Yaounde was abuzz with activity yesterday, August 4, 2025. However, it wasn't the typical hustle and bustle of pedestrians and motorbike riders. Instead, HIV peer educators were on site with a mobile screening van that drew in a crowd, as many individuals sought to know their HIV status. In under two hours, around 120 individuals had already taken part in the free HIV-Holidays campaign, much to the delight of the 19 peer educators on site.
The head of the HIV mobile unit from the Regional Technical Group for the Fight Against AIDS, Tsegui Sikamo Willy-Blondel, told Cameroon Tribune that their team is providing HIV/AIDS awareness and testing services to locals during the holidays. “Our objective is to sensitize the general public, especially young people, about STIs and HIV/AIDS, with a view to achieving zero new infections among young people by 2030.”
The mobile HIV unit drew a large crowd at 8:00 a.m., showcasing the community's eagerness to get tested. According to Tsegui Sikamo Willy-Blondel, although the crowd had thinned out slightly by noon as people attended to other activities, it was expected to swell again later in the day before the unit wrapped up at 4:00 p.m. At the Barrière Ahala junction, peer educators trained by African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering were leading HIV awareness and testing activities, specifically targeting the local population especially the youth. They were actively sensitizing and mobilizing people to know their HIV status. By the time participants arrived, they had already been well-informed by the peer educators about the importance of knowing their status and adopting best practices to curb the pandemic. The enthusiasm among the population was palpable, with many lining up to get tested. Participants later underwent an anonymous registration process. Once their anonymous code is generated, they proceed to...