The launch of the 24th edition of the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign took place on July 22, 2026, at the headquarters of African Synergies. The objectives of the 2026 edition were presented during a ceremony organized in Yaoundé.
The HIV/AIDS awareness and screening campaign organized in Cameroon during the holiday period reaches its 24th edition with a new ambition: to offer young people means for a more coherent, more comprehensive, more sustainable fight against HIV, to which two other diseases are added in 2026, namely malaria and tuberculosis. Placed under the theme ”Responsible Holidays: Youth Without AIDS”, the 24th edition of the campaign pursues specific objectives.
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It plans to train nearly 1100 peer educators, reach nearly 9 million people with prevention messages on HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis by combining community communication, traditional media, and the potential of digital platforms. The same campaign aims to screen between 40,000 and 50,000 people for HIV while strengthening Hepatitis B screening as well as malaria and tuberculosis prevention; ensure that at least 95% of newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals are placed on treatment; distribute 900,000 condoms and lubricants to promote effective prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
To achieve these objectives, the organizers plan to rely on a strategy combining community awareness, media communication, community screening, digital communication, and the mobilization of public authorities, local communities, and technical and financial partners.
These objectives are a continuation of the results obtained during the 2025 edition of the campaign and on other fronts in the fight against HIV. Last year’s “Holidays Without AIDS” campaign enabled the recruitment and training of 1,097 peer educators, raising awareness among over 6.2 million adolescents and young people through media and community activities. It also facilitated the distribution of 449,000 male condoms, 63,000 female condoms, and 137,000 lubricants; screened nearly 30,000 people for HIV with 217 positive cases, including 130,000 new cases. 96% of people diagnosed positive were placed on antiretroviral treatment. At the end of the same initiative, nearly 18,000 people were screened for Hepatitis B, among whom 706 positive cases were identified, 679 of whom were referred to care facilities.
By combining various efforts, indicators show a general improvement in the HIV/AIDS situation in Cameroon. Results from the latest CAMPHIA edition indicate that the prevalence among people aged 15 to 49 is 2.6% compared to 3.4% some time ago. 96% of people aware of their serological status benefit from antiretroviral treatment. The “Holidays Without AIDS” Campaign once again reminds everyone that prevention is crucial and is, above all, individual.
