KIGALI - The Treatment and Research Aids Centre (TRAC) has been offered a free internet access for HIV/Aids control by the MTN-Rwanda telecommunication company.

TRAC Director General, Dr Anita Asimwe yesterday announced the deal, which will facilitate health experts and partners nationwide in tracking Aids patients.

"Our staff and other partners on the ground will use free internet access to provide us information on patients,” Asimwe told journalists while presenting TRAC’s ICT Awards, it won recently.

Last week, TRAC scooped two ICT awards – Public Sector Embracing and Top Organisation – due to its online Aids control effort from South African Department of Communication and ForgeAhead. 

This was after TRAC had emerged the overall winner of the 9th annual organisational African ICT Achiever award at a gala event held on November 17 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

At the same event, TRAC was also awarded a continental public sectors embracing ICT alongside other six African countries.

Asimwe said the organisers also honoured President Paul Kagame’s efforts to the proliferation of ICT industry in Rwanda and across the continent.

"Our President was awarded with the Lifetime Achievers Award for his dedication in ICT promotion for better service delivery to citizens,” she said.

Early this year, TRAC was also globally recognised with a UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) trophy for use of ICT in ensuring timely access on HIV/Aids information and drugs nationwide.

The organisation received a UNECA’s Technology in Government in Africa (TIGA) award for improved health services through ICT.

ENDS