1. Home
  2. West Africa
  3. Cameroon

HIV-positive inmates get German assistance

Germany's Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ), this week launched the first ever anti-AIDS programme for inmates at Cameroon's New Bell prison in the port city of Douala. The aim of the yearlong project is to raise awareness of HIV prevention, which prison officials claim is on the rise at the facility. Research shows that of the 1,400 New Bell inmates tested last year, 134 were HIV-positive: 120 men and 14 women. The prison's medical chief, Dr Amougou Germaine, however, downplayed reports that recorded HIV cases were linked to the high rate of same sex activities among inmates. "It is very difficult to prove, because when these inmates came to prison, they had not been tested for HIV," he told the Cameroon Tribune.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Hundreds of thousands of readers trust The New Humanitarian each month for quality journalism that contributes to more effective, accountable, and inclusive ways to improve the lives of people affected by crises.

Our award-winning stories inform policymakers and humanitarians, demand accountability and transparency from those meant to help people in need, and provide a platform for conversation and discussion with and among affected and marginalised people.

We’re able to continue doing this thanks to the support of our donors and readers like you who believe in the power of independent journalism. These contributions help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.

Show your support as we build the future of news media by becoming a member of The New Humanitarian. 

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join