Evidence for an enhanced HIV/AIDS policy and care in Cameroon: proceedings of the second Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) 2021

Abstract

To attain the HIV 95-95-95 goals by 2030 in Cameroon, high quality research to inform policy and patient care is of utmost importance. In the context of limited workforce and resources, collaborations, sharing of locally-adapted strategies and other field experience, leveraging on existing and innovative platforms would facilitate a coordinated and optimal AIDS response at country level. The second edition of the Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) conference took place both physically and virtually on November 18 and 19, 2021 in Kribi, on the theme “Research for Policy and Care”. This scientific event brought together Cameroonian HIV/AIDS researchers, experienced clinicians and regulatory authorities to foster i) the dissemination of research findings and facilitate translation into policy, ii) operational research collaboration, iii) identification of new research areas, and iv) capacity building. To achieve the set objectives during this event, a consensus on research priorities for accelerating the achievement of three 95 HIV goals in Cameroon were summarized; meeting sessions included 31 abstract presentations, 13 discussions, and presentations on various aspects of HIV research including ethics, administrative procedures and needs for capacity building; training of young scientists on guidelines for research proposal development toward ethical clearance was done; and a platform for discussion between researchers and regulatory authorities was conducted around the design and setting-up of a national HIV/AIDS research agenda. CAM-HERO 2021 brought together HIV researchers, experts and junior scientists around major programmatic challenges, evidence to translate into practice, research priorities on HIV/AIDS. Collaborations were reinforced, capacities were strengthened, and footprints were established towards a consensus on a national HIV/AIDS research agenda.

Research for health care and policy on hiv/aids: proceedings of the third edition of the cameroon hiv research (CAM-HERO) 2022, Kribi, Cameroon, December 1-3, 2022

“…Specifically, to: 1) Build capacity in HIV research 2) Identify new, relevant and priority research questions through improved collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, 3) Foster operational research collaboration among research organizations, and 4) Disseminate research findings and facilitate their translation into policy. After the 2020 and 2021 successful editions [ 1 , 2 ], and the resulting five research priorities and corresponding research approaches [ 3 ], the 2022 edition of CAM-HERO was held. It took place from December 1-3 at the Hotel le Lagon Resort in Kribi.…”