By Doh James Sonkey
Cameroonian First Lady and UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador, Chantal Biya has issued a special statement on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering celebrated each November 16, 2025.
The First Lady began by saying, “This celebration should remind us that it is by joining forces and acting together in true synergy that we will be able to continue to meet the challenges we face.”
She took personal commitment to do more. “For my part, I will continue to play my role to the full, with the same determination. I remain convinced that we can build a healthier, more prosperous and more equitable future for our different segments of the population.”
The first lady justified that, “all this through solidarity, generosity and peace. In this regard, I pay tribute to my Sisters, the First Ladies of Africa, and to all those who, from day one, have believed in this mission: to serve the most vulnerable.”
Full of gratitude, the First Lady thanked “all our public and private, national and international partners for their support. I would like to extend a special thank you to His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon for his constant support. Without Him, African Synergy would not be the wonderful humanitarian organisation that it is today, bringing hope to so many.”
She said since November 16, 2002, “thanks to our collective commitment, significant progress has been made, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the promotion of maternal and child health, and the improvement of the status of women and children. 23 years later, I look back with pride on how far we have come, but also with humility, because much remains to be done. The African population still faces many challenges: poverty, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, armed conflicts and various crises which, unfortunately, exacerbate vulnerabilities and increase suffering”, declared Chantal Biya.
She concluded by reiterating her warm congratulations to President Biya on his brilliant re-election as President of the Republic of Cameroon.