First Lady receives special attribute for fight against HIV

UNAIDS Executive Director handed the distinction at the Unity Palace in the presence of the President Paul Biya on June 1, 2015.

Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya has been attributed the merit of UNAIDS Special Ambassador. In the presence of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, handed the certificate of recognition and the award placard to Mrs Chantal Biya, yesterday June 1, 2015 at the Oriental Pavilion of the Unity Palace.

During the audience, President Paul Biya said efforts in the fight against HIV will be doubled not only on the part of African Synergy but in the country at large.

Through her new distinction, Mrs Chantal Biya will help UNAIDS in carrying out operational research on HIV because according to UNAIDS Boss, they can only make a difference in the combat when they link science evidence and action carried out on the field.

Michel Sidibe told the press his organization was pleased to hand the attribute to Mrs. Biya because she has been a model and leader for UNAIDS over twenty years in the fight against HIV.

“She deserves the distinction. We cannot forget the pioneers in the fight against HIV. It is a great moment to recognize her efforts,” Michel Sidibe underlined.

According to Michel Sibide, President Paul Biya’s presence at the audience was the most important demonstration of his commitment not only to African Synergy but also to ensure social justice and the redistribution of opportunity so that everybody can benefit from the fight against HIV.

It is a distinction to recognise the engagement of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya and Madame Chantal Biya in the fight against HIV. It also recognizes the efforts Mrs Biya have undertaken to help give HIV a human face and to transform the fight against the epidemic.

“We say thank you for accompanying us in the fight against HIV and we hand you this distinction with the wish that one day, one of your achievements will be no child with HIV,” UNAIDS Boss noted.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS told the media how he had never thought that one day there will be a generation free of HIV but Mrs Chantal Biya’s efforts is giving them hopes in that direction.

She has put in place the African Synergy Against HIV and Suffering and Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB). Mr Sidibe said they can talk about progress in the fight against HIV in the African continent because Cameroon’s First Lady brought in meaning in the fight against mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Today, in Botswana no babies are born with HIV. The UNAIDS expert hopes that very soon Cameroon will also be part of the countries where there will be no more mother-to-children transmission of HIV.