34 percent of deaths of Rwandans above the age of five are caused by HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses like Tuberculosis (TB) or prolonged Malaria each year.

The revelations were made yesterday by the Minister of Health, Dr Richard Sezibera, ahead of the Health Week.

He disclosed that during the coming week, special emphasis will be made on the immunization of children and awareness creation around the parent’s collective role of upholding health status among families.

"Women should bring their children for medical treatment during this week and their husbands must also play a helping role. Bringing up children is a collective responsibility by both parents,” Sezibera said.

"As much as we try to streamline our health services, individuals should desist from bad practices like spitting or coughing irresponsibly because this contributes to the spread of disease,” he said.

The Ministry of Health will also build more maternity wards and boost human resource in health centres as well as empower health mobilizers at the community level, he announced.

In a bid to bring health services closer to the population, the ministry has also unveiled plans to have at least three ambulances in each district to ease emergencies.

Hon. Liberata Kayitesi, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Welfare, underscored the importance of awareness campaigns despite the shortcomings that have hampered the process.

"However, awareness alone is not enough…practical solutions to the health problem like periodically carrying out tests or going for medical checkups in case of a suspected infection are necessary,” Kayitesi said.

During this week, special emphasis will be on the fight against TB and other HIV related infections.

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