Cameroon recorded a decline in number of HIV/AIDS infections in the last seven years, according to Minister of Public Health Malachie Manaouda.

Prevalence rate fell from 4.3 percent in 2011 to 3.4 percent in 2018 due to increase in financing and the “massive scale-up” of sensitization, prevention and treatment measures, Manaouda said on Wednesday.

The figures were made public during an evaluation meeting of the National Aids Control Committee held in the capital, Yaounde.

According to the committee, in terms of absolute numbers, over 500,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon and new infections are common among youths between 15 and 24 years, young girls are hit hardest.

Sixteen thousand newborn babies from infected mothers were taken care of in 2018, statistics from the committee indicated.

As part of measures to reduce new infections by the year 2022, Cameroon has announced it will conduct monthly campaign on behavioral change, increase intensive care and test over 2 million people, especially women.

Source: Xinhuanet