CIRC considers reducing cost of HIV test

The Director of the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre made the announcement on July 12, 2016, in Yaounde while receiving a Guinean delegation.

HIV-positive patients in the country who develop resistance to Anti-retroviral Treatment will soon see their financial burden lightened as the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre, CIRCB, Yaounde, plans to reduce the cost of the test.

The Director of CIRCB, Prof. Alexis Ndjolo, made the disclosure in Yaounde yesterday, July 12, 2016, while receiving a delegation from Guinea Conakry.

On behalf of Mrs. Djene Conde Kaba, Guinea Conakry's First Lady, the team of two from the «Fondation Conde Djene Kaba pour la promotion de la santé maternelle et infantile, » FCDK-PROSMI, is on a study tour of institutions founded by First Lady, Chantal Biya.

Prof. Ndjolo said the cost of the HIV resistance test, which currently stands at 100,000 FCFA, "will be significantly" reduced to make it more affordable to patients.

An announcement to this effect is expected to be made by the CIRCB Board by the end of this month, he promised. Similarly, discussions are underway for CIRCB to be given Category 2 status by the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation, UNESCO.

This, sources explained, means giving the HIV research centre international status and recognition. It should be recalled that Mrs. Chantal Biya is UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador.

During discussions with the Guinean team led by Dr Karfalla Kaba, Executive Director of FCDK-PROSMI, Prof. Ndjolo went down memory lane, explaining reasons for the creation of CIRCB by Mrs. Chantal Biya, its activities in HIV/AIDS research and awareness, their reach and possible impact.

He also took time to list the various state-of-the-art laboratories the centre boasts. However, he said CIRCB faces challenges such as inadequate staff and the often slow process of mobilising State funding.

Dr Karfalla Kaba presented the activities of FCDK-PROSMI, saying HIV prevention efforts in Guinea Conakry recently received a big blow with the advent of the Ebola epidemic. As a result, the country's health system is virtually being rebuilt from scratch.

Dr Piou Gamet Beavogui, FCDK-PROSMI Officer in charge of Programmes, disclosed that his country now has over 35,000 people living with HIV, with over 26,000 on Anti-retroviral Treatment. The national HIV prevalence rate is 2.5 per cent, compared to 3.9 per cent in Cameroon; down from 5.3 per cent in 2011.