WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Members of the Anti-HIV committees from various districts of the Northern and western province of Rwanda have completed a three day training on the use of communication to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The training which was organized by the National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) ended on December 20th  in Gisenyi town within Rubavu district.

According to, Jean Pierre R. Ayingoma, officer  in charge of social communication at CNLS, the main aim of the training was to equip the newly formed district level anti-HIV committees with a higher capacity to plan for and develop communicational skills on HIV responses at district and community levels.

He added that the training also aimed at enhancing competencies of the committee members in HIV/Aids monitoring and evaluation within the entire western and Northern Province of Rwanda.

‘Participation of the newly instituted district level committees is considered by CNLS as a key factor in reaching out to the local level actors in mitigating the AIDS pandemic at district, sector and cell levels and this measure is actually  a good path towards the reduction of the spread of HIV prevalence nationally’, explained Ayingoma.

While addressing the participants at the closing ceremony, Musanze district vice mayor in charge of social affaires Pascal Butunge said that the district and provincial authorities were committed to supporting these committees in their efforts against HIV/Aids scourge.

‘Bringing the HIV infection rates to a very minor level is one of the government’s plan in the EDPRS and we need to work together  as government and other stakeholders to achieve this common  goal’,  he said.

Speaking to The New Times, Clement Mwongereza from Rubavu district said that the training mainly focused on the role of communication in enhancing a positive  social behaviour, among other topics.

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