A local NGO AIMR-Ihorere Munyarwanda, Thursday, donated 15 Friesian cows to Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) in Gicumbi District.

The programme’s national coordinator, Aimable Mwananawe, handed over the cows aimed at alleviating poverty among the beneficiaries, especially HIV vulnerable communities.

The programme is supported by the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health.

The beneficiaries were selected from 15 cooperatives that mostly comprise of PLWAs from two sectors in the district namely: Kaniga and Rushaki.

According to Mwananawe, the donation is also part of support to the government‘s cattle stocking programme popularly known as ‘Girinka’.

 "The project is aimed at improving the diet of the infected community because the disease requires better diet,” Mwanawe said.

The project, which will run for three years throughout the country, will benefit over 240 members including the needy community in the district.

During the event, MP Josee Marie Twizeyeyezu, who is a member of the socio-economic parliamentary committee, urged the residents to take responsibility in sensitising the use of condoms.

"Talk to your children to always use condoms. It is better for this campaign to start right from households,” she said.

She disclosed that Gicumbi tops in having the highest population infected with HIV/AIDS in the country.

One of the beneficiaries said that the cows would improve the standards of living among members in her cooperative.

"We have been given some hope in life. Some of us had already lost it because we never thought of possessing a cow. Now we can’t wait to drink milk,” said an elated Rose Uwayezu, a mother of three.

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