Patrick Fouda is a 27-year-old Cameroonian organizer and social entrepreneur who’s on the best way up. When he was 23, he was impressed to co-found the Cameroon Community of HIV-positive Adolescents and Youth (RECAJ+) to reply to the social inequalities and well being issues confronted by younger folks dwelling with HIV in Cameroon. He shortly realized that HIV-positive youth dwelling in Cameroon and elsewhere in French-speaking West and Central Africa have been going through the identical challenges. He started campaigning to arrange a regional coordination community of organizations for younger folks dwelling with HIV. He nonetheless chairs the community at this time.
Constructing on that have, he turned a member of the World Fund Youth Council in 2020. In January 2023, he joined the World Fund’s Nation Coordinating Mechanism in Cameroon as a consultant of younger folks and adolescents. He’s additionally a member of the regional advisory group for UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) program, which helps complete intercourse schooling for teenagers and younger folks in sub-Saharan Africa.
What has your expertise with HIV been like? Have stigma and discrimination been part of your expertise?
Once I was 12 years outdated, I used to be affected by paralysis. I might now not maintain a pen or go to highschool. My dad and mom took me to a neurologist who, whereas conducting different screening checks, found that I used to be HIV-positive. On the time, the paralysis was my predominant concern, and I didn’t take into consideration my HIV standing very a lot.
Later, once I was 19, I began to consider my HIV standing, and I turned near different younger individuals who have been HIV-positive. Lots of them have been speaking concerning the stigma and discrimination they have been going through due to their HIV standing. My first response was that my paralysis had affected me way more than my HIV standing, and I minimized the issues of different younger folks dwelling with HIV. I’m not snug with complaints – my very own and people of others. Because of a psychosocial counselor, I turned extra conscious. She inspired me to assist others discover methods to unravel their issues, simply as I needed to discover options to my very own. Now, my strategy is to hear first, then work on empowerment.
Inform us concerning the stigma and discrimination that younger HIV-positive folks face in your nation, Cameroon.
For adults, there are only a few limitations to remedy. Stigma might exist, however adults, together with key populations, have entry to companies. However younger folks face authorized issues which are linked to cultural points. The legislation stipulates that the age of consent, or sexual maturity, is 21 years outdated. Which means younger folks aged 15-16 who’re changing into sexually energetic don’t have entry to the help they want. It is a rising situation in our society. Whereas measures such because the HIV self-testing initiative and different exemptions are being launched for these aged 18 and over, the authorities are nonetheless very conventional. The sexuality of younger folks is stigmatized, and that has penalties for his or her well being.
What do you consider the older era who help this coverage?
I used to have a fame for being impolite. Again residence, younger folks don’t categorical themselves brazenly in entrance of an elder, however I might converse my thoughts. Now, I nonetheless converse my thoughts within the presence of elders, however I attempt to perceive them. They have been introduced up in a special context, with different accepted behaviors. I take heed to my elders as a lot as I attempt to get them to concentrate to the considerations of younger folks.
Do these challenges exist in different elements of French-speaking Africa?
In my opinion, in contrast with English-speaking Africa, there may be little or no dedication – notably from civil society within the broad sense – to supporting HIV-positive younger folks in French-speaking African nations, which makes it tough to establish the issues. The extent of look after HIV-positive younger folks in French-speaking Africa is the worst in Africa.
How do you see your position in Cameroon and French-speaking Africa?
I see my position as working inside organized buildings to help larger mobilization. I’ve already began engaged on coordinating with a community of associations for youth and teenagers dwelling with HIV in West and Central Africa. I intention to empower them and help them of their mobilization efforts.
My strategy is to empower the younger folks and the youth teams I help. I inform them: “These are the issues we face. We have to establish them and provide you with options that we implement by working with outdoors organizations. However the options have to return from us.”
The World Fund Youth Council offers perception into the wants and challenges youth face in relation to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and, extra broadly, to different elements of their well being and well-being. The council advises the Govt Director, who facilitates the council. Members are primarily beneath 25 and stay with or are affected by HIV, tuberculosis or malaria and replicate the range of younger folks, together with key and susceptible populations.
