EASTERN PROVINCE

KAYONZA — The Police have been asked to participate in preventing HIV/Aids spread in the country. Assistant Commissioner of Police and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Wilson Rubanzaha made the call at a meeting organised by the Rwanda National Police (RNP) in Kayonza last Friday.

Rubanzaho said that police intervention into the fight against Aids, will be an added effort in the fight against the pandemic since they (Police) are able to reach the population at grassroots level.

"Police values the fight against Aids because of the nature of their work, which exposes them to risks of contracting the virus, for example rescuing injured people and living far from their families,” he said.

Calling on couples to report cases of infidelity, Rubanzaho advised married people to be faithful to their partners. He urged infected couples to use condoms to avoid the accumulation of the virus in the body and desist from producing.

"It is someone’s right to give birth though not advisable for infected people. But if you cannot avoid it, the mother should get medical follow up so as to give birth to a healthy child,” Rubanzaho pointed out.

Edward Muhima, the technical assistant, for the Kayonza District Committee against HIV/Aids said, like other parts of the country, more efforts are centred on encouraging couples to go for HIV voluntary testing together. He commended the efforts of Police which he said wins confidence of the population in the police force.

According to Muhima, more people are seeking HIV/Aids tests in Kayonza. Authorities and police agreed to launch a joint campaign against the disease through community policing. The campaign will involve sensitising residents to go for blood test, and get treatment if found infected among other mechanisms.   

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