HUMFRIEH’s HIV Project 2021-2023 in Cameroon
Between 2021 and 2023, HUMFRIEH undertook a vital HIV prevention and care project in the Buea municipality and surrounding hard-to-reach communities like the Likomba creek area and schools, focusing on non-schooled adolescent boys and girls aged 10 to 24 years. This vulnerable group, often marginalized in access to health information and services, benefitted from HUMFRIEH’s targeted and compassionate outreach efforts. In partnership with CAMNAFAW and Press Jeune Développement, the project aimed to increase awareness, provide testing, reduce stigma, and empower young people to combat HIV/AIDS effectively.
Reaching Vulnerable Adolescents with Tailored Prevention Messages
Adolescents and young people who are out of school face unique challenges in receiving accurate HIV/AIDS information and services. HUMFRIEH’s project addressed these gaps by deploying peer educators who communicated HIV prevention messages in relatable, youth-friendly ways. Activities included interactive sessions explaining modes of HIV transmission, risky behaviors, and practical prevention strategies such as correct condom use.
The project also involved the distribution of condoms combined with education on their correct and consistent use to equip young people with the tools to protect themselves. This approach aligns with national strategies emphasizing combination prevention and youth-centered services to reduce new infections in high-risk groups.
Promoting Voluntary HIV Testing and Early Diagnosis
Voluntary HIV testing was a cornerstone of the project, with HUMFRIEH organizing accessible testing opportunities directly in communities and schools. This approach helped overcome barriers like stigma, transportation challenges, and lack of knowledge that often prevent young people from knowing their status.
Testing was coupled with counseling services that provided confidential support, promoted acceptance, and linked those diagnosed with HIV to treatment and care. Early diagnosis is critical for improved health outcomes and breaking the cycle of transmission—a focus underscored in Cameroon’s national HIV strategic plans for 2021–2023.
Reducing Stigma and Discrimination Through Community Engagement
HUMFRIEH’s project worked hard to dismantle stigma, one of the largest obstacles to HIV prevention and care. Stigma leads to discrimination, isolation, and fear among people living with HIV (PLWH. Peer education sessions and public sensitization campaigns included personal stories and community dialogues that humanized PLWH and corrected misconceptions.
By addressing harmful myths and encouraging compassionate care, the project helped create a more supportive environment where young people and adults feel empowered to seek help and support without fear. This stigma reduction effort also encouraged community members to stand in solidarity with PLWH, thereby fostering a culture of empathy and inclusion.
Empowering Vulnerable Populations in Hard-to-Reach Communities
Recognizing the geographical and social barriers in creek areas and other remote zones, HUMFRIEH extended outreach activities to Likomba community in Tiko and creek areas in 2023. These areas typically struggle with access to healthcare infrastructure.
The outreach included voluntary HIV testing, condom distribution, and sensitization on HIV transmission and prevention, as well as care for persons living with HIV/AIDS. HUMFRIEH’s holistic approach ensured no one was left behind, prioritizing inclusive coverage and compassionate service delivery for vulnerable populations often overlooked by mainstream programs.
Collaborative Approach Reflecting Core Values
Throughout the project, HUMFRIEH partnered with local organizations like CAMNAFAW, Press Jeune Développement, and grassroots community groups to leverage existing networks and amplify impact. These partnerships reflect HUMFRIEH’s core values:
Compassion: Caring for vulnerable youth and PLWH with dignity and respect.
Integrity: Ensuring transparency and accountability in all initiatives.
Empowerment: Equipping young people with knowledge and resources to make informed health decisions.
Collaboration: Working hand-in-hand with community partners for sustainable impact.
Innovation: Using tailored strategies like peer education to address unique challenges.
Additionally, during Cameroon’s youth week in 2023, HUMFRIEH expanded sensitization efforts to schools, reaching both in-school and out-of-school youth with consistent messages on HIV prevention, stigma reduction, and compassionate care.
Why This Project Matters
Efforts like HUMFRIEH’s 2021-2023 project are crucial in turning the tide against HIV/AIDS in Cameroon by focusing on the most vulnerable—young people marginalized by social and educational barriers. This project’s community-led and youth-friendly approach addresses critical gaps in:
Access to accurate HIV information tailored to adolescents’ realities.
Accessible and youth-friendly HIV testing and counseling services.
Practical prevention tools like condoms combined with education.
Breaking down harmful stigma that discourages testing and care.
Expanding coverage to hard-to-reach populations facing geographical and social exclusion.
By investing in these dimensions, HUMFRIEH contributes decisively to national and global HIV/AIDS goals, including reducing new infections, improving treatment uptake, and ensuring no one is left behind in the response to this epidemic.
Advancing the Final ‘95’: Community ART Dispensation and Support Groups
Committed to meeting the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets—which aim for 95% of people living with HIV (PLWH) to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression—HUMFRIEH has put innovative, client-centered models into practice to ensure no one is left behind.
To drive progress toward the third “95,” HUMFRIEH launched a robust community ART dispensation program. This initiative currently supports a cohort of approximately 250 clients living with HIV, divided into three dedicated support groups. These groups regularly convene to share experiences, encourage one another, and receive their monthly ART refills in a comfortable, stigma-free environment. This approach not only makes lifesaving medication more accessible but also fosters peer support and empowerment, critical for long-term adherence and retention in care.
HUMFRIEH closely collaborates with Tiko Central Clinic and The Baptist Hospital Mutengene, ensuring clients receive clinical oversight, linkage to care, and comprehensive health services. By decentralizing ART provision through these community-based support groups, HUMFRIEH has successfully reduced transportation burdens, decongested high-volume health facilities, and provided timely, client-centered care that aligns with best practices adopted nationally and globally.
The significance of this strategy cannot be overstated: studies from Cameroon highlight that these community dispensation models improve ART adherence rates, optimize retention in care, and reduce loss to follow-up, especially for clients in remote and underserved areas. Group meetings allow members to share coping strategies and health tips, building a sense of solidarity essential for battling stigma and isolation. The result is not just better health outcomes for individuals, but a stronger, more resilient community empowered to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS into the future.
HUMFRIEH invites its supporters, partners, and community members to join in these efforts—to empower vulnerable youth, fight stigma, and create healthier communities free from HIV/AIDS.
Together, we can stop the spread, support those affected, and build a future full of hope and health for every young person.
