Youth volunteers working with Rwanda Red Cross (RRC) have in their 2011 plans vowed to put more emphasis on sensitizing residents, especially in rural areas, on the need to improve and maintain hygiene standards as a measure to prevent diseases.

The decision was made yesterday during a two-day workshop which attracted RRC youth representatives at the national level.

"We realized that when we prioritize sensitization on hygiene, there are chances of saving people who unnecessarily suffer from diseases as a result of poor hygiene in the villages,” said Wilson Karasira, the president of the RRC Youth Volunteers.

According to Karasira, among other factors, poor hygiene has heavily contributed to disease in rural areas.

"We shall also educate masses on the need to control garbage disposal, malaria and HIV/Aids prevention measures as well as proper nutrition,” he said.

Karasira highlighted that people in the villages produce many varieties of foodstuffs but take most of their harvest to the market.

The workshop was aimed at evaluating RRC youth volunteers 2010 activities as well as planning for next year.

In his speech, RRC Secretary General, Apollinaire Kagarama, urged Rwandans to adopt the culture of volunteerism saying that it is one of the ways the needy can be helped.

"Our strength as RRC is the number of volunteers we have. When it increases, our activities are extended to various areas of the country,” Kagarama said.

He added that plans are under way to ensure that RRC activities are effective right from national down to the cell level, adding that they intend to have at least 10 volunteers in every cell.

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