Rwandans can now access Anti-retroviral drugs soon after testing HIV positive, following the launch of a new initiative by the government.

The "treat all positive” initiative which became effective Thursday was announced by the Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho.

Previously, patients who were in their later stages of the infection were the ones who had access to ARV’s. However, this is all set to change courtesy of the new initiative.

Dr Binagwaho told journalists that the initiative is a step forward in the fight against HIV.

"Knowing where we came from in the 1990s, seeing now that we are on this step is an exemplary story. We have stabilised the rates of HIV in Rwanda, people living with HIV don’t die so much like it was before and this is a success,” she said on Thursday. The minister pointed out that with the new initiative, a lot of resources will be saved if only people play their part in fighting new infections.

"HIV is still a very expensive disease, it doesn’t have a vaccine hence we will only make it if the number of infections is under control. Please take caution, contribute to education, understand the risk, be faithful to your partner if you can’t use condoms,” she cautioned.

"We thank the World Health Organisation, Global Fund, USA government and other partners for the support. We are continuing with our journey based on the participation all of you have shown.”

Dr Sabin Nsanzimana the Head of HIV, STI and other Blood Borne Infections Division at Rwanda Bio-medical Center pointed out ten important control areas for the HIV epidemic in Rwanda.

They include anti-retroviral treatment as the first one and probably the most important tool, support, fighting stigma, condoms, testing services, behaviourial change communication, prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme, blood safety and voluntary male medical circumcision.

Dr Nsanzimana said that, for the last 20 years new infections reduced almost by 50 percent, the same for the deaths related to HIV.

Results from a health survey done a few weeks ago indicate that the HIV prevalence in Rwanda remains at 3 percent with people aged 40 years and above having the highest prevalence.

With HIV, treatment is also prevention seeing that the risk of infection or death is cut by half if one receives treatment earlier.

"We have evidence from major studies that if you treat someone who is infected in cell discordant couples, you prevent the negative partner by 96 per cent, the same for people who are infected if they receive treatment earlier death and serious illnesses are reduced by 53 per cent. This is one of the biggest data we have in the last five years,” Dr Nsanzimana revealed.

He added that Anti-retroviral not only helps in treatment but also makes people healthier and live longer.

At least 3 per 1000 people are infected every year, deaths are 1,832 per year, and with treatment these numbers can be cut. 

Treating everybody is the focus now, so far there almost 17,000 patients on treatment.

"In 2004 we had less than a thousand people on treatment this shows that the trend has been going up and this resulted into reduction of new infections,” he said.

Almost 18,000 infections will be averted and financially $3.5 million will be saved per year when the ‘treat all HIV positive’ is implemented.

Dr Sibongile Dludlu, UNAIDS Country Director cited a 2016 preliminary report that showed that in Eastern and Southern Africa there was a lot of impressive strides with the anti-retroviral coverage between 2010 and 2015.

In 2010 there were 4 million people on ARVS where as in 2015 they are 10.5 million.

She said that with an early treatment HIV can be managed since it significantly improves the patients’ health and reduces risk of transmitting new infection.

"We as the One UN appreciate the efforts of all partners to fight HIV, we re-affirm our commitment to end the AIDS epidemic.”

"It’s astounding that a few decades ago HIV was a death sentence but with each passing year, countries, including Rwanda, are able to save more people with HIV. ‘Treat all’ is a good example of progress and willingness of the government of Rwanda to embrace innovation and to take evidence based decisions,” Dr Dludlu said.

Erica J. the Barks-Ruggles, United States Ambassador to Rwanda, congratulated the government on reaching such a momentous step.

"This is a momentous event, not just for Rwanda, but for all of us. We have been working on this for more than ten years now and we are almost achieving it through our partnership,” she said.

"The US government has been working with Rwanda for 12 years on this and we are this close to gaining control of the epidemic. We are going to be side by side with partners to see that Rwanda achieves control over this epidemic. Together we can create an AIDS free generation.”

editorial@newtimes.co.rw