CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Evaristus Chofor Fonkah, Cameroon, October 1998
THEME = AIDS
Much remains to be done in Cameroon,
so that people can learn to live with the realities of AIDS
In 1984, a friend of mine, who works in one of Cameroon's private clinics, hinted to me that two of my colleagues had AIDS. The two worked with me in the same department. Indeed, one sat right opposite me in the same office and had just married a young 18 year-old girl. They already had a small baby. My colleague grew thinner and thinner and had to visit the bathroom frequently. It was obvious he was desperately ill as he was going from one medical centre to the other and was also visiting a number of traditional treatment centres.
In Cameroon (and throughout sub-Saharan Africa), many people seek treatment from traditional healers, because they can't afford the high cost of hospital treatment, and, in some cases, because they are convinced that only traditional healers and witch doctors can cure certain types of diseases.
During one of his trips to get some kind of treatment, my colleague died in a motor accident, together with his uncle who had been accompanying him on such trips. He left behind a young widow and a baby. The widow was unemployed. Both died a year later.
My second colleague lasted until 1987 when he died. He'd lost a lot of weight and he constantly wore a hat. I eventually understood this was because his hair was falling out. He was always sick and eventually was diagnosed as having kidney failure. He underwent several sessions of hemo-dialysis, which became more frequent with every passing day. He was finally taken home to his own village and died there soon afterwards.
My two colleagues knew they had AIDS; there are many who can't afford the "luxury" of a professional medical diagnosis.
Both State and Church have been making some efforts to inform people about the AIDS situation in their country, but one wonders if enough is being done? Cameroon is a poor country and the funding of institutions to combat the spread of AIDS, is almost non-existent. In a country where the State still has a monopoly over the Media, the State decides what should be broadcast, preferring programmes that bring in money. And so AIDS continues to spread, unchecked.
The Church has been doing something to educate their Christian faithful about this killer disease, by teaching married couples the importance of marital fidelity. At the same time, the Church condemns the use of condoms. But in a society as promiscuous as ours, preaching fidelity and abstaining from the use of condoms, is asking the impossible. That's why some priests seem to have changed their attitude on this point.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO)s like Population Services International (PSI), have been multiplying the free and cheap distribution of condoms. Other organisations like the Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare, (CAMNAFAW), have also been offering a free counselling service and the free distribution of condoms.
The UN reports a startling increase from 1994-1997, in the number of people being HIV-positive. The same source reckons that by 1997, 15.9% of the population between the ages of 15-49 were HIV-positive.
This is a generalised picture because Dr. Nchinda Emmanuel, a clinical pathologist and very much involved in the fight against AIDS, says that there is no clear-cut figure to indicate Cameroon's present situation. Studies, he says are done in places like hospitals, and among such groups as prostitutes, student groups, etc. But: "The fight against HIV/AIDS hasn't really got down to grass-roots level because the old habit of promiscuity is still hanging around. Prostitutes are really "at risk." Here the incidence of HIV/AIDS is 45% [and perhaps even higher]. 60% of prostitutes in Ngoundere are reckoned to have HIV/AIDS, and 80% in Mvog Ada, a district in Yaounde. This is very alarming, but luckily we know about this group and the dangers to themselves and to others because of their life-style."
Dr. Gilles Kwende works in the General Hospital, Bamenda, capital of Cameroon's Northwest Province. He's convinced that most people today know that AIDS exists. The main problem is, how to protect them from AIDS? He says people are careless, they are poor, they put their trust in charlatans and traditional healers who claim that they can cure AIDS. He notes, however, the decrease in the degree of venereal diseases treated at his hospital. This could indicate that people are now using condoms.
Dr. Kwende is worried about teenagers because they don't seem to bother about dangers inherent in their sexual behaviour. He thinks that no effective strategy has yet been established to help AIDS patients and control the spread of AIDS. "There's a stigma attached to having AIDS. Anybody with AIDS is considered to be a "disgrace". Even family members disassociate themselves. The consequence being, that people refuse to accept they have AIDS, ignore all necessary precautions and so spread it around. There's no strategy available to guide people in the social aspect of their lives and so enable them to live positively with AIDS and not be ashamed of the disease. We need social workers, doctors, religious bodies, who are prepared to work together in determining a better outlook for AIDS patients. But we need resources and manpower for our hospitals, if we are to achieve any success in this sphere. And people have to be prepared to accept what we have to offer. I fear, however, that success will not come quickly - indeed, not until AIDS had claimed many a victim, and most certainly, not until the country's economic situation improves."
Dr. Afful George, Medical Director of Polyclinic Bonanjo (a well-known centre of medical excellence) in Douala, says that Douala's situation is alarming. According to Dr. Afful, statistics at Laquintinie Hospital (Douala's largest government-run hospital) show that 20%-25% of Douala's population is infected with AIDS. The general situation in Cameroon is getting worse, he regrets, and he blames this present situation on people's attitudes, lack of education and promiscuous behaviour. He says that some people think that "all the talk about AIDS" is a way of frightening them from having fun. "And to make matters worse", continues the doctor, "somebody once told me the rumour is circulating that when doctors cannot actually make a clear diagnosis about a patient's illness, they diagnose AIDS as a cover-up - which does nothing to improve our reputation".
Heterosexual promiscuity has also influenced the high rate of AIDS cases in Cameroon. Dr. Afful thinks that every Cameroonian who is educated, should take part in educating people about AIDS. Parents, especially, must educate their children at home.
He believes that the government has now understood the situation is getting serious, and is creating centres and organisation to take care of people with AIDS. Unfortunately, not enough publicity is available about the existence of such bodies. Since 1990, the Ministry of Health has taken an active role in fighting against AIDS. One way has been to broadcast information concerning AIDS, in local languages over the various provincial radio stations. The government has a policy not to reveal the names of people classified as HIV-positive. However, specially invited groups have been invited to come and see for themselves what it means to have AIDS, especially in the terminal stage of the disease. Many specialised centres like the Laquintinie Hospital, have a special unit for screening AIDS-related cases, and run a programme of information-visits.
Dr. Nchinda is also a specialist in microbiology and infectious diseases. He insists on the importance of a counselling service for AIDS patients. In March 1998, the Health Ministry created a new body for the fight against AIDS, headed by Professor Peter Ndumbe, of the University of Yaounde. He is now reviewing the National Programme for the Fight Against AIDS and AIDS-related issues. On a more local level, he is setting up local groups with specialised training, who can undertake the screening of people at risk and offer counselling to HIV positive individuals. Appropriate medical treatment is also available.
The new National Commission for the Fight Against AIDS has as its goal, to curb the rate of infection, to make the population aware of the risks attached to AIDS, and to treat those infected. The Commission will also serve as a monitoring agent for information gathered at a local level, which will then be analyzed so as to present a national picture of Cameroon's true situation regarding AIDS.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement