Organization: Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
Region: Africa
Nationality: Cameroon
Country: Cameroon
Interests & expertise: Ageing with HIV
Profession or occupation: Healthcare worker/social service provider
What inspires you to work in the HIV field?
My curiosity about HIV turned into motivation, and this began when I was a fourth-year medical student. I questioned how complex the virus was to command such prevalence, morbidity and mortality without a cure in the face of scientific eminence. Professionally, I've always had a preference for infectious diseases, particularly HIV – towards understanding the burden of HIV-related health issues, researching the aetiology of particular complications, and evaluating the impact of interventions for treating and preventing the illness in my setting.
In my current role as a consultant-technical specialist, I work alongside the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders to design, implement and manage all technical aspects of the EpiC decentralized drug distribution project, with a primary focus on piloting the private pharmacy model as a differentiated service delivery option in Cameroon's central region. Since 2019, I have managed over 6,000 people living with HIV as the project’s HIV/TB clinical advisor, responsible for the site's achievement of the project goals under the UNAIDS 95-95-95 agenda.
What are your goals as an IAS change maker?
As an IAS change maker, my goal is to partner for global HIV epidemic control through the equitable distribution of optimal molecules and therapeutic advances in HIV and HIV-related co-morbidities, especially in the global South. I hope to contribute to advocacy, HIV cure and, ultimately, HIV eradication.