Meeting at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health on July 1, health authorities and development partners reviewed preparations for the 24th edition of Vacances Sans Sida, as the country gears up for the campaign’s official launch later this month.
Health officials and partners during the preparatory meeting for Vacances Sans Sida 2026 at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health in Yaoundé.
Preparations for the 24th edition of Vacances Sans Sida gathered momentum on July 1 as government officials, development partners and health stakeholders met in Yaoundé to refine the strategy for one of Cameroon’s longest-running youth health campaigns.
The second preparatory meeting, held at the Ministry of Public Health, was chaired by Professor Mendini Nkodo Joseph Marie, Technical Adviser No. 2 representing the Minister of Public Health. Representatives of the Global Fund, technical and financial partners, sectoral ministries and other key stakeholders attended the session to review progress ahead of the campaign’s official launch, tentatively scheduled for July 22.
Opening the meeting, Professor Mendini Nkodo highlighted the increasingly challenging financial environment facing public health programs. With several international partners reducing their funding commitments, he stressed the need for greater collaboration among all actors involved in the campaign to preserve its impact on young people.
He also called for a more integrated approach to disease prevention by combining HIV awareness with interventions targeting tuberculosis and malaria. According to health officials, this strategy is expected to maximize available resources while delivering broader public health benefits.
Discussions focused on the implementation of recommendations made during the first preparatory meeting and on the operational arrangements required before the campaign begins. Participants reviewed the contributions expected from each partner and examined ways to strengthen coordination between national and regional stakeholders.
One of the key issues debated was the revision of the selection criteria for peer educators, who play a central role in delivering prevention messages to adolescents and young adults during the school holidays. Stakeholders also worked on defining the profile of these volunteers to ensure they possess the skills needed to engage effectively with their peers.
The meeting further emphasized the importance of increasing the involvement of sectoral ministries and district health services, whose participation is considered essential for expanding the campaign’s outreach across communities.
Despite the financial constraints, several partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting specific campaign activities, offering renewed confidence that the initiative will proceed as planned.
The session concluded with a series of recommendations aimed at accelerating preparations. These include finalizing the revised criteria for selecting peer educators, strengthening collaboration with public administrations, harmonizing communication messages surrounding the campaign’s web series, and improving coordination between regional technical groups and district health services.
As the countdown to the July launch continues, health authorities hope that stronger partnerships and more efficient coordination will enable Vacances Sans Sida 2026 to maintain its role as a cornerstone of youth HIV prevention while responding to the country’s evolving public health challenges.
