The association of Vulnerable Widows Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDs (AWAIS) Friday launched a 64 page book sharing insights on the disease.

The book, of which 500 copies released so far, is a result of a survey conducted in partnership with National Aids Control Commission (NDCC) and Rwandan Network of People Living with HIV/Aids (RRP).

Conducted in 2009, the survey focused among others on stigma and discrimination against HIV positive people.

"Information in this book will effectively contribute to the understanding and reduction of stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/Aids,” said Chantal Nyiramanyana, president of AWAIS.

She added that according to the findings, there is still need to sensitize the population against discrimination of the infected and those affected by the disease.

"These people need encouragement, guidance and counselling to make them feel part of the society, engage in developmental activities and earn to live,” she said.

The president said that although the book is only in English, plans are underway to have it in both Kinyarwanda and French. It will be found in bookshops nationwide.

The Director of Planning at Rwanda Biomedical Centre/CNLS, Sebaziga Gakunzi, noted that information in the book will also give the institution a work plan on how to deal with challenges.

"Our work plan will partly base on findings of the survey which the book properly clarifies,” Gakunzi said.

The study was supported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

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