On 9 July 2026, Douala vibrated to the rhythm of an announcement that promises to revolutionise HIV prevention on the continent: the official launch of injectable PrEP with cabotegravir. A scientific, political and human gamble led by a man determined to make Cameroon a model in Africa.
In the packed hall of Douala, all eyes were on one man. Dr Manaouda Malachie, Minister of Public Health, stepped up to the podium with the determination of those who have understood that the time for inaction is over. 9 July 2026 will remain the day when Cameroon stopped suffering the epidemic and began to tame it. The day when HIV prevention entered a new era, that of innovation in the service of the most vulnerable. « Today we are not just launching a simple product. We are offering thousands of Cameroonians a chance to live free of HIV, without the burden of a daily pill, » declared the Minister, to sustained applause from the technical and financial partners, United Nations agencies and media professionals gathered for the occasion. A statement that bears the mark of assumed leadership, that of a man who places the health of populations above all other considerations.
Cabotegravir: The Scientific Breakthrough that Changes Everything
The new weapon that Cameroon is equipping itself with is called cabotegravir. Administered by simple intramuscular injection every two months, this long-acting drug represents a major advance in HIV prevention. Where daily pills required iron discipline and exposed users to the sometimes heavy gaze of those around them, the bimonthly injection offers total discretion and regained freedom. But the breakthrough goes far beyond ease of use. Clinical studies have shown that injectable PrEP is significantly more effective than its oral alternative, with a dramatic reduction in the risk of transmission. By eliminating the constraints of daily adherence, it removes the main obstacle to the effectiveness of prevention. An advance that Dr Manaouda Malachie himself describes as a « silent, but oh so powerful, revolution ».
The Leadership of Dr Manaouda Malachie: The Art of Transforming Emergency into Opportunity
Behind this historic launch stands the figure of a statesman: Dr Manaouda Malachie. Having taken the helm of the Ministry of Public Health with a clear vision, he has made the fight against HIV one of the pillars of his action. It is no coincidence that Cameroon is today one of the first countries in Central Africa to introduce injectable PrEP. This leadership is expressed through three essential dimensions. Vision, first: the Minister understood before many others that
combined prevention is the key to halting the epidemic. Political will, second: despite a context of shrinking international funding, he has stayed the course and mobilised the resources necessary to bring this project to fruition. Proximity, finally: by involving community actors in the reflection and implementation, he ensured that the innovation responds to the real needs of populations. « This innovation is the fruit of hard work, permanent consultation with our partners and attentive listening to communities, » he stressed, paying tribute to all the teams mobilised. A tribute that reflects his management method: to unite, inspire and act with humility.
21,000 New Infections: The Time for Radical Action
While Cameroon has made significant progress in the HIV response, with prevalence reduced to 2.6% among 15-49 year olds, the situation remains alarming: nearly 21,000 new infections are still recorded each year. For Dr Manaouda Malachie, this figure is unacceptable. It demands responses commensurate with the challenge. This is the whole point of the pilot phase being launched in Douala, the epicentre of the epidemic in the country. By targeting areas with high transmission, the Minister is choosing health efficiency and resource optimisation. A surgical approach that will maximise the impact of the innovation and make it possible to assess its relevance before any possible scale-up. « We have the tools, we have the science, we have the will. All that remains is to convince, to inform and to accompany, » stressed the Minister, launching a solemn appeal to community actors to become the ambassadors of this revolution.
2026-2030: The Course is Set, Victory is Within Reach
As funding becomes scarcer and challenges multiply, Cameroon, under the leadership of Dr Manaouda Malachie, is choosing audacity and innovation. Injectable PrEP is not an end in itself, but a powerful lever for achieving the ultimate goal: eliminating HIV as a public health problem by 2030. This milestone, enshrined in the National Strategic Plan for the Fight against AIDS 2024-2030, is now within reach. Thanks to the vision of a Minister who is not afraid to shake up habits, Cameroon is taking its place among the pioneering nations in HIV prevention. A national pride that bears witness to the unfailing commitment of President Paul BIYA to the protection of the health of populations. As the first injections are administered in the coming days, one certainty prevails: the history of the fight against AIDS in Cameroon is being written today, in golden letters, under the impetus of a man, Dr Manaouda Malachie, who has succeeded in transforming a health emergency into a historic opportunity.
