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A campaign to talk about the role of families in the fight against HIV, especially among children, was launched throughout the country for two months in celebration of the World AIDS day last Tuesday, December 1.  GTZ country director Rainer Krischel addresses participants at a sensitization session. (photo Timothy Kisambira) The theme was chosen to promote the right to talk about, use and access condom with an emphasis on condom use as a dual protection – family planning and unintended pregnancies – especially among the youth and prevention against sexually transmitted infections like HIV. The campaign will end on February 28. The campaign comes at a time that the spread of the disease in Rwanda has apparently been contained. The report Global AIDS Epidemic 2008 by UNAIDS estimates that prevalence of HIV in Rwanda is 3% in the general population aged 15-49. It occurs more in urban areas (7.3%) than in rural ones (2.2%), and women are more affected (3.6%) than men (2.3%). Even though prevalence in the country is significantly lower than the average in sub-Saharan Africa (5.2%), there is no room for complacency. That is why the two-month campaign calls on everybody to play its role, especially bigger entities such as organizations and companies. At the German technical cooperation (GTZ), for instance, specific programs have been set up to sensitize staff about HIV/AIDS. “Worldwide, GTZ has a workplace program for HIV,” explained Sandy Kubaj, technical advisor for HIV/AIDS at GTZ. “Here in Rwanda we promote sexual and reproductive health and sensitize on gender-based violence, in line with the national priorities.” In the context of World AIDS Day, the organization also held an information and sensitization afternoon last week aimed at providing information and sensitization about the use of condoms to the society as dual means of protection against HIV, STDs as well as unwanted pregnancies. According to Rainer Krischel, the GTZ country director, the concept follows entirely the national priorities as well as the theme of World AIDS Day. Besides reducing the HIV prevalence and the consequences of AIDS, the aim is to reduce the birthrate. Strengthening the effort in the field of family planning, especially among the youth will also contribute to a decrease in maternal and child mortality. Related articles: To prevent HIV in children more sensitization is needed (http://focus.rw/a/content/view/1242/29/) New microbicides tests for better protection against HIV (http://focus.rw/a/content/view/1108/29/) ART treatment saves lives but many patients are still excluded (http://focus.rw/a/content/view/1033/29/) |
This road at Gisozi has been like this for months and months.
Less than a year after the start of the joint management of Akagera, much progress has been made. Yet poaching remains a major obstacle.
Even before, Nyabugogo taxi park with all its potholes was a mess. Now that rehabilitation has started, it’s worse. But it’s all for the better. Meanwhile at Rubangura, it’s all the same.
