Ten secondary students were yesterday awarded prizes in Kigali after demonstrating excellence in communicating the HIV/AIDS prevention care and treatment through poetry.

The competitions were organised countrywide by the Rwanda Health Communication Centre (RHCC) under the Ministry of Health.

It’s aimed at encouraging Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) especially among couples, as well as content on HIV/AIDS care and treatment in general.

Michael Mugengana, who scooped the top prize, said he was very excited about his success and was planning to take back his talent to his fellow students so they can benefit from his knowledge.

"It is currently clear that many students have a certain understanding about HIV and its bad effects, but we will carry on with raising awareness,” said Mugengana, a Senior Six student at Gahini Secondary School in the Eastern Province.

All the ten winners were given school fees for the whole year, a mattress and scholastic materials, but Mugengana and the two runner-ups got an additional TV set and a DVD player for use in their respective anti-AIDS clubs at school.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho who presided over the ceremony, appreciated the messages passed on through the poems, noting that their content will help in the campaigns against HIV/AIDS.

"I am very pleased to see that we have such talents. It shows that the youth are ready to understand the danger of HIV/AIDS,” she said in an interview shortly after rewarding the students.

"We have to support them along the way to change the behaviour and to transform their knowledge into action.”

In total, the RHCC received 53 entries from various schools in ten selected districts: Burera and Musanze in Nothern Province, Gisagara, Huye and Nyanza in Southern Province, Rusizi and Nyamasheke in Western Province as well as Kayonza, Kirehe and Ngoma in Eastern Province.

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