Parents Must Be Models In AIDS Fight- Governor

Francis Tim Mbom & Walter Wilson Nana 

Southwest Governor, Louis Eyeya Zanga, has urged parents to lead by example to their children if Cameroon must win the fight against HIV/AIDS spread."Parents must be role models in their effort to build the behaviour of their children," Eyeya said.The Governor was speaking to a cross section of the Southwest public in Limbe on Thursday, December 1, who had gathered to mark this year's World AIDS Day; the 18th on the role.      

The day was celebrated on theme: Stop AIDS. Let's Keep the Promise. Looking at the road covered so far in the fight against AIDS, Eyeya said Cameroon has made ample progress.

But he said much still need is still to be done if Cameroon has to keep the promise of barring the virus from engulfing the children, the future of tomorrow.The Governor said to secure an AIDS-free future for the children; parents' behaviour towards their children must reflect morality, fidelity and all the other virtues that can help build a healthy society, tomorrow.

      
"The challenge is before us. Let us move forward, renew our determination to work harder and harder in transforming our Province into an healthy, peaceful and prosperous area."   

  Infection Rate Still High

Speaking earlier, the Provincial Coordinator for the Fight Against AIDS, Dr Rose Forchingong, said though more people were now coming out for the test, the rate of infection was still high. She said the provincial rate is currently estimated at eight percent.   

   
To her, the best way to lead by example was for them in leadership positions and those at the forefront of the fight to come out, do the test and make it publicly known. She said this will be more convincing and compelling for the rest to follow.

The Provincial Delegate of Health, Dr. Martin Njie Mafany, said knowing ones status was a big step to stem the spread of the disease."If all of us take this challenge, there will be progress (in the fight against AIDS) in our communities," he said. 

   
He said besides the Provincial Hospital in Limbe and the Buea District Hospital, there were nine other hospitals and health centres in the Province where free AIDS screening is done.   

Dr Wilfred Akam of the AIDS Treatment Centre at the Provincial Hospital Limbe, said for behavioural change to make real meaning, it must not only end at the individual level, it must transcend to the state. He said the government needed to show a committed and sustained will in the fight.

Dr Akam during December 1, 2004, said the rate of infection at the level of Limbe was estimated at 13 percent.In a word with The Post about the current rate of infection, Akam said there was every indication to the effect that the rate was on the rise.

"When we continue to have more and more people dying from it, more and more coming for counselling and testing, then it means the rate is on the increase," Akam said.      
  He said the only positive thing was that many more people were now voluntarily showing up for the test.

Comments

[Atabong Christian]

What is stricking about cameroonians is that many people still don't believe aids exist and it kills.. Many still go doing unsave sex. It is bad, the use of condom must be highly recommended amongst cameroonians whether you like it or not. Please use condoms, it is as save and enjoyabla as your so-called full contact. Why should the rate of aids infected patience decreases in Europe while increases in Africa, we must value life. Sexual promiscuity doesn't benefit us, stick to one save partner

[dango tumma]

THE ETON BOYTURN GOBERNEUR DES ANGLOFOUS
AH AH AH, WHAT A MOCKERY TO DEMOCRACY IF ATALL SOME ONE ELECTED HIM IN AYOUS, HE COULD BE DIGGING LANTRINE FOR HIS PEOPLE
I MEAN THE KID-BOY GOBERNEUR DE MBIYA.
ITS ABOUT TRIBAL AFFILIATION NOT CAPACITY.
WITH A DISEAS SUCH AS AIDS, THAT CAN EASILY TURN TO APANDEMIC, THERE MUST BE A COMMITTEE
TO RESEARCH THE ORIGIN, THE SPREAD AND THE ACQUISITIN OF THE DISEASE ,THEN THIS DATA
STORED IN A COMNPUTER MAIN FRAME COULD BE USE TO MAP THE IMMIGRATION OF THE GERDAMES, POLICE, AND MILITARY PERSONNELS WHO ARE
99% FRENCH CAMERS FROM EAST MUNGO. AND WHO ARE THE CARIERS OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE SINCE OUR YOUNG GIRLS WERE NEVER BORN WITH AIDS, WE VE GOT TO FIND OUT WHO IS BRINGING THESE AIDS TO OUR YOUNG GIRLS. WHAT TRIBES ARE THEY? WHERE DO THEY COME FROM.AND WITH THEESE KNOWLEDGE WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNOR IN BUEA , TO PASS A LAW BANNING, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CRIMINALS TO OUR TERRITORY. WE BAN THEM AND ANNONCE OVER THE RADIO, AND SENSITIZE OUR PEOPLE. THATS THE RIGHT WAY TO FIGHT AIDS, THEN THE OTHER PART IS PROTECTION AND ONTI RECTRIVIAL, MEDICATION.
WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY AS SECOND CLASS
CITIZEN IN OUR LAND, NOT BY CHANCE, BUT BY DESIGN. THERE IS A DESIGN TO WIPE OUT THE WHOLE ANGLOPHONE POULATION WITH AIDS , SOO
FRANCOPHONES CAN OWN OUR LAND.

[Emeka]

I hope this is not new to Sounthern cameroonnians,all millitary personnels that are HIV positive are being posted to southern Cameroons.our girls must learn to say no.That statistics are clear.