Kondengui-Yaounde Residents Embrace HIV Screening

Hundreds of residents of the Kondengui neighbourhood in Yaounde thronged the premises of the Yaounde IV Divisional Office on Friday, November 30 to participate in a voluntary screening campaign for HIV/AIDS. The campaign was organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education as part of activities to mark the 25th World AIDS Day.

The event saw a prior mobilisation by peer educators in various streets interconnecting the neighbourhood. Tents set up for counselling and screening that targeted essentially youth, attracted residents of all age groups. "Each time I have an opportunity like this one, I participate in screening," said Augustin Bingambe, a resident.

Under makeshift tents and besides a medical van, medical staff of the National Committee for the Fight Against AIDS (CNLS) could be seen busy in the three counselling posts, screening and withdrawing results. "After going through the counselling and screening phases, the residents come back 45 minutes later to collect their results," said Gertrude Manguele, Focal Point for HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education.

The ministry's HIV free screening caravan started on Thursday with a campaign around the Ministry's building in Nlongkak, Yaounde and recorded over 270 people. Activities culminated on Saturday with a march from the Yaounde May 20 Avenue to the Conference Centre in Tsinga where the official ceremony marking the 25th World AIDS Day was held.