1st December 2005 has been a great day in Cameroon, I personally participated in the UNICEF organized event at the 20th may boulevard Yaounde Cameroon where the celebrations marking world AIDS day were being commemorated.

This year specially, emphasis besides the theme ‘Stop AIDS, Keep the promise’ was placed on children as the hidden face of the disease. Organized by the UNAIDS and UNICEF under the patronage of the First lady of Cameroon was heavily attended by the members of government and diplomatic corp.

‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ was also the highlight of the event this year as UNICEF and UNAIDS wants the world to pay particular attention to children who happened to suffer the weight of this pandemic more that any other category of people.

The messages presented by firstly the children after a march pass implored the decision makers present to take the fight against HIV/AIDS seriously especially as they suffer the most from this illness. It was a moment full of emotions as the children let their parents know just how much they are suffering.

Then followed a series of speeches both from the government and representatives of the international organizations in Cameroon. Each of them took turns to evaluate the work done already and to pledge their commitment for the years to come. Of particular importance to me was the revelation by the Minister of Public Health that tri-therapy for HIV would be available to pregnant women free of charge in 2006.

I was particularly satisfier noticing that young boys and girls cured up around testing facilities to do their VCT. This only told me stigmatization is gradually fading out from the Cameroonian community.

Until 11.30 PM, my cell phone work me up from sleep, the caller was a friend and I wondered angrily why he should be calling that late into the night when he shouted into my ears’ my test was negative. This guy whom I had taken over a week to convince to go for a test ended up going and thought it wise to let me know his results even if it had to the last thing he did for that day.

At the end of it all, 2005 seem to have been a years in Cameroon that got many more Cameroonians wanting to say no to this pandemic. I only hope this desire would persist.