The Cameroon America AIDS Alliance (CAAA) HIV/AIDS Treatment Center in Cameroon has provided free HIV testing and treatment to hundreds of men, women and children since opening on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006.

The clinic, based in Kumba, is directed by Dr. Bernard Blaauw, a highly regarded HIV/AIDS physician and researcher formerly of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and the City of Chicago Department of Health. Dr. Blaauw also sees patients in Manyemen, instructs local health care providers, and lectures at CAAA conferences and at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kumba. Dr. Blaauw intends to transmit his experience and knowledge in HIV/AIDS treatment by lecturing in Medical schools in Cameroon.

Patients benefit from the clinic's new flow cytometer, a diagnostic device that is critical to effective treatment. Our flow cytometer is one of only a few of its kind in Cameroon.

The first line course of treatment for most illnesses in Africa is proper nutrition. That is even more so for HIV/AIDS patients.  

CAAA, in addition to offering counseling on a balanced diet for HIV/AIDS patients, has also provided seed money to support a number of chicken farms owned and managed by HIV/AIDS patient groups. This provides a source of protein and also serves as an income generating activity that empowers patients.

CAAA encourages the creation of support groups that share stories and ideas and hold each others hands through their different journeys.   Members of these support groups tell us that patients in their groups live longer and happier that patients that do not belong to a support group.

• Patients are provided with voluntary counseling and testing
• Patients receive multivitamins and prophylaxis against opportunist infections
• Patients receive a small variety of anti-Retroviral medications as are available in the country (resource limited). CAAA plans to expand on the variety of anti-Retrovirals as funds become available