University students have been urged to take an active role in HIV/AIDs prevention.

The call was made by Dr Jeanne Kagwiza, the acting principal of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rwanda. Kagwiza was speaking during a two-day HIV/AIDS sensitisation campaign held at the College, recently.

Kagwiza noted that there need for more sensitisation to reach out to the young generation in order to create an HIV free generation.

"We always encourage students to go for screening so that they can know their status and to always protect themselves,” Kagwiza said.

The campaign was organised by We Act For Hope, a local NGO in partnership with UNAIDS, under the theme- ‘HIV/AIDS free generation, your life status the foundation of your real vision.’

Students who attended the event pledged to sensitise their peers about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to live positively in case they are already infected.

Emile Niyonsaba, the president of Future Generation Club, an anti HIV/AIDS club at the University of Rwanda, said that through social networking they reach out to the youth and sensitise them against HIV/AIDs.

Chantal Benekigeri, also from We Act For Hope, said the objective of the campaign is to achieve an HIV/AIDS free generation in the country.

"In our 2010 survey, we found that the youth aged between 13 and 24 are the most affected by HIV. Our main concern is to have a zero infection rate and a generation free of HIV/AIDS,” Benekigeri said.

She added that sensitisation on HIV/AIDS, voluntary testing and counseling and condom distribution are some of the measures being implemented to achieve that goal.

At the same event, Dr. Gilbert Mbaraga, the medical director at We Act For Hope, emphasised the need for people to know their HIV status.

"Though HIV has no cure, it is not a death sentence. People should have safe sex, and screen regularly for any sexually transmitted infections. We should also not shun people that are infected with the virus but rather take care of them,” Mbaraga said.

Rwanda’s HIV prevalence rate is 3 percent.

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