HUYE - Barely a month after being crowned Miss ‘Campus’ 2009, at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), Viviane Umulisa, has started to fulfill her pledge to campaign against HIV/AIDS and drug abuse.

Over the weekend, Umulisa joined 12 youth clubs within Tumba sector to set up a forum through which they will fight the HIV/AIDS scourge and drug abuse within the sector.

"This is one of the priorities on my agenda. I want to establish contact with the youths neighboring the university in the fight against HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and unplanned pregnancies,” she said.

She urged the youth especially girls to resist the temptations that may put them at a risk of contracting HIV virus and unplanned pregnancies.

Statistics indicate that girls aged between 15 and 24 are three times more susceptible to infection than boys within the same age bracket.

Andrew Mahame the president of Tumba Youth Network, hailed the activities of Miss Campus and pledged cooperation.

"She has good plans for the youth, she is also a role model to our girls,” said Mahame.

Safari Maboneza, the president of Youth Council in the sector, hailed the initiative of Tumba youth to create such a forum.

Incidences of prostitution and drug abuse has been reported in this sector, according to local authorities. Setting up of the Youth Forum is seen as one way of helping the youth to embark on a journey of behavior change. 

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