Photo Story: Serge Douomong Yotta (Cameroon)
Go to full screen for photo captions.
Serge Douomong Yotta is from Cameroon and is an activist with communities affected by HIV including key population groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and youth in Africa.
Serge’s commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS began when he noticed a wave of deaths amongst friends. He became personally motivated to stop the spread of HIV within his community. He co-founded Affirmative Action to respond to the injustices faced by LGBT people in Cameroon as well as to provide access to HIV services.
Serge took his first HIV test in 2011. Serge will always remember the non-judgmental and open reception he received at the clinic. He had later realized that the staff had received training in human rights and non-discrimination from the Global Fund. Serge continues to go there for HIV screenings, prevention materials and health support.
Serge served on the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism in Cameroon as a key populations representative from 2013 to 2015. He recognized that his organization needed to be where the decisions were made in order to make an impact on health access, stigma and discrimination. In this forum, he was able to speak openly about his community without fear. At 30, Serge is now Affirmative Action’s Executive Director and spokesperson for the regional network Africagay contre le sida, a regional MSM network.
Serge used to dream of a Cameroon where key populations would have access to health facilities and would be respected as human beings. With the Global Fund’s support, this can be a reality. Serge thanks the Global Fund for his continued health and his ability to feel protected and free, especially in an environment where homosexuality is strongly condemned.
The Global Fund has supported Cameroon since 2005 and currently provides ART for 180,000 people.
December 8, 2018 Photos by Josh Estey/Ground Media/GFAN