Service providers and caregiver mentors from 17 health facilities across the Northwest region gathered at the Nkwen Baptist Center, April 4-5, 2025 for a pivotal orientation session, marking the launch of the new phase of the Children Momentum Project. This phase broadens the project’s reach to include children aged 0-5 and adolescents aged 14-19, ensuring that no age group is left behind in the collective effort to improve the health and future of children living with HIV.
Mrs. Awa Fanny, Project Manager, set the tone of the event by emphasizing the project’s ambitious goal: raising viral load suppression rates from 91% to 95% in 2025 by including all age groups and empowering both peer supporters and caregivers. The orientation was not only a time for learning and sharing but also an occasion to recognize excellence. Facilities and service providers were honoured for their best practices, with Banso Baptist Hospital emerging as the top performer. Regional Hospital Bamenda and Ndu Baptist Hospital were recognized in second and third place respectively, demonstrating outstanding commitment to pediatric HIV care. Mrs. Awa Fanny herself received an award of excellence for her unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes for children living with HIV.
The two-day workshop was thoughtfully structured to maximize impact. The first day focused on caregiver mentors, while the second day brought both mentors and service providers together. Through candid discussions and shared experiences, participants explored strategies to bring caregivers and their children into care. They examined practical approaches like one-to-one visits, paying close attention to the emotional states of children—such as sadness or isolation—and using these observations as entry points for deeper conversations with caregivers.
Challenges were openly discussed, including the stigma that prevents some families from visiting treatment centers. As Agnes, a caregiver mentor, explained, shame is a powerful barrier: “Some pipo no di cam because they di shame,” she said, underlining the need for empathy and persistence when engaging with defaulters. The team recognized that defaulters are not all the same; some miss appointments, others are lost to follow-up, and each case requires a tailored approach to understand and address the underlying reasons for disengagement. Solutions included proactive follow-up, such as calling facilities to ensure medication is delivered, and educating caregivers to anticipate and navigate common problems.
The workshop also provided a space for sharing success stories and practical insights. Blanche, another caregiver mentor, expressed her gratitude for the new ideas she gained. She recounted the story of a mother whose child’s high viral load was linked to the mother’s daily absence for farm work, highlighting the importance of consistent medication and caregiver involvement.
Project coordinator Anangkeng Justina emphasized the team’s commitment to supporting even the most challenging cases, stating, “They are here to help the stubborn caregivers do the right thing.”
Underlying these efforts is a recognition that some children become HIV positive due to neglect—sometimes knowingly, sometimes out of ignorance. To address this, a child protection officer attended the workshop, ready to intervene in situations where caregivers resist or misunderstand pediatric HIV care. In some cases, caregivers insisted their other children were healthy despite not following recommended protocols, only for further pediatric assessments to reveal additional HIV-positive cases in the family.
HIV Free Principal Investigator, Prof. Tih Pius praised the service providers, especially those working in challenging areas. “We are very proud of what you are able to achieve irrespective of the circumstances,” he said, echoing the sentiments of the NW HIV Regional Technical Group Coordinator, Dr. Jude Berinyuy, who encouraged the participants to strive towards meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for children in 2025. As the Children Momentum Project embarks on this new phase, the empowered service providers and caregiver mentors stand as pillars of hope, ready to create a brighter future for children living with HIV in the Northwest region of Cameroon.