Strengthening Support: Advocacy Visits Shine Light on Youth HIV Issues
The Association for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon has launched a series of advocacy visits to amplify the voices of young people living with HIV (YPLWHIV) in Bamenda. These visits, held on October 28 and 29, 2025, are pivotal in encouraging key stakeholders in the HIV response to take actionable steps toward improving the lives of YPLWHIV.
According to project lead Ndum Charlotte Ayeah, these efforts align with the Storytelling for HIV Awareness and Advocacy Project, funded by the International AIDS Society. The initiative seeks to address the limited access to HIV information, prevention, and treatment services among young people in the conflict-affected Anglophone North West Region of Cameroon. In this area, stigma and weakened health systems continue to hinder care and support.
The project aims to empower YPLWHIV to share their personal stories safely, using these narratives to challenge stigma, raise awareness, and influence decision-makers to enhance youth-friendly services. Through training peer educators, conducting community sessions, and organizing advocacy events, the project connects young people to accurate HIV information and referral pathways, fostering informed, inclusive, and responsive communities that support the health and rights of adolescents and youth.
Visits to Key Stakeholders
As part of this initiative, Ndum Charlotte Ayeah and her team have engaged with several key HIV response stakeholders in the North West Region.
Visit to RECAJ Northwest
The first visit was to RECAJ Northwest, the Network for Positive Adolescents and Young People. During this meeting, YPLWHIV expressed concerns about the lack of safe, youth-friendly spaces where they can feel understood and supported. RECAJ acknowledged this critical gap and shared their ongoing efforts to establish such a dedicated space in Bamenda. They also highlighted their annual gathering for YPLWHIV, which serves as a vital platform for young people to share experiences, discuss challenges, and foster mutual support.
Engagement with the Children Momentum and Equality Project
The second visit took place at the Children Momentum and Equality Project, where Mme Justine, the Regional Supervisor for Peer Educators, welcomed the advocacy group's concerns. She committed to communicating these issues to the broader project team to ensure they are adequately addressed. Mme Justine also noted that the project has begun training peer supporters to enhance engagement within pediatric HIV care facilities, ensuring young clients feel more supported from their first interactions. Furthermore, she emphasized a personalized approach to managing cases of high viral load, aiming to strengthen treatment adherence and improve health outcomes for young people.
Discussion with HIV Free Northwest
The third visit involved discussions with the Project Manager of HIV Free Northwest, who recognized the positive impact of storytelling and peer educator training initiatives. She stressed the importance of empowering young people to take an active role in their own care. Addressing concerns regarding staff attitudes towards YPLWHIV, she explained that regular staff evaluations and feedback sessions are conducted to improve the support provided to young clients. In response to the frequent shortages of second-line treatment, which threaten adherence among some young people, she assured that efforts are being made to ensure consistent availability of necessary medications.
Through these advocacy visits, the Association for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon is not only highlighting the pressing needs of young people living with HIV but also fostering collaboration among key stakeholders to create supportive environments that promote their health and well-being. The commitment demonstrated by these organizations marks a hopeful step toward addressing the challenges faced by YPLWHIV in Bamenda.
By Bamenjo Petronilla