Cultural practices spreading HIV/Aids in Rwanda

Editor,Many people have fallen victims to the HIV/Aids epidemic because they have failed to let go of ancient Rwandan cultural practices.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Editor,
Many people have fallen victims to the HIV/Aids epidemic because they have failed to let go of ancient Rwandan cultural practices.

In the villages, wives are still inherited if their husbands die. This is done by the husband’s relatives but little do they know that the deceased could have died of HIV/Aids.

Other wives sleep with their fathers-in-law in order to get inheritance from them. It’s a common Kinyarwanda practice known as Gukazanura.

Cousins are also having sex with each other and since they tend to think that they trust each other, transmission of the virus takes place.

Well, this does not imply that we are going against our own culture but the truth stands that culture was invented by man; therefore anyone can amend a few details where necessary.

In this case, it is more important for us to save lives so I urge everyone to stop such ignorance or use condoms to safe guard our lives.

GATSIBO