KIGALI - Rwanda and the United States have signed a 5-year HIV/AIDS partnership framework that will guide both governments in their cooperation to strengthen Rwanda’s response in the area.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Sezibera, signed on behalf of Rwanda while the U.S Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Eric Goosby, signed for the US.

In a statement released by U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the partnership will reinforce decentralization of health sectors, through an emphasis on strengthening district-level capacity plans, manage, implement and finance HIV/AIDS programs.

Sezibera commended the relationship between Rwanda and U.S and called upon the media to sensitize the public about their role in fighting for an HIV free society.

"There is no HIV vaccine and we don’t hope to get one in the next few years. Therefore, citizens, as the human resource of the nation, must be careful to protect their lives against HIV/AIDS by using condoms as well as ARVs if they are infected,” Sezibera said.

He said that under the leadership of the government, with the support of all HIV/AIDS partners, partnership with the U.S will help reduce the number of new HIV infections, increase social and economic opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS, and also build the capacity of public health system.

Goosby said that the partnership would outline key objectives to build on the already strong foundation of Rwanda’s HIV’AIDS management and coordination.

"The U.S Government intends to continue to support Rwanda’s strong commitment to national ownership of programs which aim to better the universal access to HIV services, strengthen institutional capacity and offer quality service delivery,” Goosby said.

Goosby is the head all U.S Government international HIV/AIDS programs, including PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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