current status of hivaids in cameroon how effective are control strategies当前状态的条件在喀麦隆如何有效的控制策略.pdf

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2008, 5(5) 378-383 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1661-7827 © 2008 by MDPI Current Status of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon: How Effective are Control Strategies? 1 2 3 Dora Mbanya *, Martyn Sama and Paul Tchounwou 1Faculty of Medicine Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon 2Tropical Medicine Research Center, Kumba, Cameroon 3Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA * Correspondence to Dr. Dora Mbanya. E-mail: dmbanya1@yahoo.co.uk Received: 24 October 2008 / Accepted: 08 December 2008 / Published: 31 December 2008 Abstract: Nearly three decades after its discovery, HIV infection remains the number one killer disease in Sub- Saharan Africa where up to 67% of the world’s 33 million infected people live. In Cameroon, based on a Demographic Health Survey carried out in 2004, the national HIV prevalence is estimated at 5.5% with women and youths being predominantly infected. Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) from the HIV and AIDS pandemic have increased steadily over the years; hospital occupancy is estimated at about 30%, hence stretching the health system; co-infections like HIV/tuberculosis have been reported to reach 40-50% of infected cases and 95% of