GATSIBO – Nurses working at Kabarole Health Centre have said that there is high prevalence of HIV/ AIDS among the youth, compared to other age groups in the area.

According to Jeanne d’Arc Tuyishimire, a nurse who talked to The New Times yesterday, HIV prevalence in Kabarore Sector was neither reducing nor increasing.

"In January, we received 33 new cases of HIV positive incidences, in February we had 19 new cases and in March, we have 26 new cases. Such is the trend that it is unpredictable…in all these cases, the youth numbers are the highest, ”she said. "We however don’t have the exact figures since some patients go for testing in other areas”.

Grace Umugwaneza, another nurse working with the same dispensary, said that it has been noticed that the youth in the area are prone to contract the deadly virus due to factors such as a steady increase in dropout rates in schools as well as unplanned marriages.

She further attributed the incidences to cases of increased unofficial marriages mostly with men who are used to having multiple partners.

Umugwaneza urged parents to be more vigilant to curb the rate of infection. "Parents should be more vigilant. There is a serious problem at hand.” she said.

Jane Nyirarugendo, an HIV positive woman said she contracted the virus when she got married at a very tender age. "I never tested when I got engaged to current husband… It was not until I got pregnant and went for mandatory test, that I was found to be HIV positive,” she said.

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