As East Africa (EA) moves towards real integration, the regional bloc has set up a taskforce to develop the bill that seeks to help curb the AIDS scourge in the region.

The team was in the country for a two-day conference (17th – 18th September) aimed at collecting data on Rwanda’s experience as regards HIV/AIDS so that policies, practices and protocols are harmonized.

In an interactive discussion with different stakeholders from organizations that fight HIV in the country, Ambrose Rachier an advocate and facilitator from Kenya highlighted the need for upholding human rights of HIV positive people.

"It is imperative that HIV related discrimination at work places, education sector and insurance among others stops. I would however like to get your views on how this should be done in the region,” Rachier requested.

Officials also noted that the workshop will also come up with answers as to whether condoms should be distributed in prisons and also analyze if commercial sex workers should be targeted for prevention interventions.

"We are therefore here to seek guidelines on how to introduce a model law that will govern EA countries with regard to HIV/AIDS,” he added.

The Chairperson of the Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and member of the task force, Aimable Mwananawe also noted that once views have been collected from all member states, the bill will be tabled in the East African Legislative Assembly this year.

Participants came from the National AIDS Control Commission, the Joint United Nations programme on HIV/ AIDS and other non- government organizations directly concerned with curbing and treating the pandemic

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