Catholic University of Central Africa

HIV treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens. With suboptimal adherence reported in resource-limited settings (RLS), real-word evidence on DTG-effectiveness within ART clinics is limited. This study assessed virological response, drug resistance profiling and HIV-1 diversity among ART recipients at the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH), Cameroon. A facility-based study was conducted at YCH from May-2023 to February-2025. HIV plasma viral load (PVL) was measured by RT-PCR. Viral suppression (VS) was defined as PVL < 1,000copies/mL. Genotypic resistance testing (GRT) was performed for participants with PVL≥1,000copies/mL. Drug resistance mutations (DRMs) were interpreted using Stanford HIVdb v9.8 and statistics were performed with significance at p < 0.05. Among 6,364 participants enrolled (median-age: 50 [IQR:42–59] years; 71

This policy brief examines how community engagement influences progress toward onchocerciasis elimination in Cameroon and assesses policy-relevant barriers affecting Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI). It draws on qualitative research conducted in 32 communities across four regions, including 145 in-depth interviews and 27 focus group discussions with community members and drug distributors, health workers, and local authorities. Findings highlight persistent challenges: limited disease knowledge, fear of adverse events, alcohol-related concerns, low motivation among community drug distributors, and increasing MDA fatigue. Evidence indicates that participation improves when trust, communication, and local ownership are strengthened. The brief positions community engagement as a core elimination strategy and recommends strengthening culturally adapted communication, adverse event management, incentives for community drug distributors, surveillance feedback, and multi-level coordination to advance national elimination goals.

Cancer has become a major public health problem in Cameroon. In 2020, 20,000 new cases and 14,000 deaths were registered. Despite its high burden, access to quality medications for this condition continues to be a persistent challenge in the country. This study assessed the perceptions and practices of key stakeholders on barriers to accessing quality anticancer medicines in Cameroon. The overall goal was to generate data on key challenges related to the quality of anticancer medications and their impact on cancer care and treatment in Cameroon. This is to inform policy and interventions aimed at addressing the problem. In a cross-sectional qualitative study, a document review of key reports and documents, and 57 stakeholders were purposively identified and interviewed. The choice of these respondents was informed by their engagements in one of the areas of the chemotherapy supply chain in Cameroon, including regulation, procurement, quality control, and use. Data from document notes and interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach. Several factors were identified as affecting the quality of chemotherapy medications, including weak regulatory systems, inadequate funding for regulatory activities, and a lack of core competencies among staff responsible for regulatory functions. Other factors included the high cost of anticancer medications, which influenced accessibility to quality products, as well as the quality of care offered to patients who could not afford high-priced products. These weaknesses, coupled with a lack of point-of-care tools, appear to encourage the proliferation of substandard medicines in our setting and the use of substandard therapies or protocols to treat patients. Our study sheds light on the multifaceted problems that plague Cameroon's chemotherapy supply chain and how these impact access to optimal care and treatment for cancer patients. Urgent actions are needed to enhance the regulatory landscape and improve the affordability of quality anticancer medications in Cameroon.

Aging with HIV is an emerging public health issue in Cameroon, characterized by a growing number of older people living with HIV (OPLWH). In Cameroon, this population faces multiple challenges, including limited access to appropriate care, a lack of consideration for their specific needs by health facilities, and persistent stigma. An emic approach to this issue reveals that the experience of aging drives the engagement of older people living with HIV in their own care within health facilities and associations for the elderly. Furthermore, their engagement both in society and within health facilities is explained by lifestyle changes and the positive mobilization of healthcare staff. Resilience, as well as acceptance of oneself and the disease, are integral to the strategies that foster older people's participation in improving their care. Regarding recommendations, older people urge public health institutions to implement coaching and support interventions to help them develop strategies for managing their condition and their care.