HIV and TB Overview: Cameroon

Strategic focus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began work in Cameroon in 1998 as an HIV laboratory and research program. CDC partnered with the Government of the Republic of Cameroon in 2008 to strengthen infectious disease efforts and develop sustainable public health capacity. Through technical and financial assistance from CDC, Cameroon has accelerated progress against the HIV epidemic. Cameroon has also leveraged capacity developed through CDC’s support to respond to other public health threats.

As a key implementing agency of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC focuses on achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression targets. CDC’s health systems strengthening efforts include building epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory, research, and workforce capacity to support HIV and tuberculosis (TB) treatment and prevention programs along the clinical cascade to build a sustainable HIV response.

Read more about CDC's most recent key activities and accomplishments below.

Building public health capacity

• Supported the Cameroon Ministry of Health in delivering clinical services in more than 340 health facilities across all ten regions through implementing partners.

Strengthening laboratory systems and networks

• Supported five laboratories achieve International Organization for Standardization (ISO-15189) accreditation—the first accredited laboratory in Central Africa and the first internationally certified blood bank in West and Central Africa.
• Launched the Strengthening Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation, a framework for evaluating the progress of laboratories toward international accreditation. CDC has strengthened laboratory capacity across the country, including national reference laboratories for early infant diagnosis, HIV viral load testing, and COVID-19 testing. Over 1,300 laboratories are participating in the HIV rapid test proficiency testing program.
• Implemented the first national proficiency testing program to ensure quality and reliable results.
• Strengthened the national HIV monitoring and evaluation system and enhanced the District Health Information System at national, regional, and district levels. CDC is training health facility staff to use site-level data for continuous quality improvement.
• Initiated the use of artificial intelligence tools during the pediatric surge activity to improve data quality, accuracy, and real-time information for decision-making.

HIV prevention and treatment

• Scaled up HIV prevention and testing among people at greater risk of HIV, expanded patient centered care approach targeted care and treatment services for those living with HIV with tailored differentiated service delivery models to ensure treatment retention and viral load suppression, and addressed gaps in antiretroviral therapy availability.
• Launched the National Pediatric HIV Surge in partnership with the Government of Cameroon to scale up community and facility settings’ identification of children and adolescents living with HIV and connect them to lifesaving treatment.

Tuberculosis prevention and treatment

• Supported Cameroon’s National TB Control Program by integrating HIV services in TB settings and integrating TB services in HIV clinics, which included the scale-up of TB screening among PLHIV and the provision of TB preventive treatment.

• Boosted TB infection prevention and control activities to prevent transmission in healthcare settings.

By the numbers

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Resources

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