The health department of Cameroon has pledged free treatment to all patients suffering from AIDS. The drugs will be funded by the government and other NGOs like Clinton Foundation and Global Fund.
The program is expected to cost about $11.9 million to the government to treat about forty seven thousand AIDS patients. Earlier the Cameroon government had given free treatments and AIDS screening tests to vulnerable groups like prisoners, TB patients, pregnant women and children.
It is estimated that Cameroon has AIDS rate of 5.5% and a monthly treatment of $14 for an AIDS patient is considered quite steep where majority of the population are poor farmers.
The government of the Republic of Cameroon has decided today that there will be free treatment with antiretroviral (drugs) for all people living with HIV/AIDS eligible for this type of treatment
says Minister Urbain Olanguena Awono
While countries like Brazil, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia have already started offering free AIDS treatment in their countries, Nigeria and Congo are expected to follow according to WHO.
