Imbuto Foundation, on Tuesday, announced plans to set up a model facility in Bugesera district, which will integrate elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV/Aids (EMTCT) services, through its Family Package project.

The model will be piloted in Ngeruka Health Centre in Bugesera district, Eastern Province.

The plan was announced at a meeting in Bugesera convened to chart ways of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids, both at health centres and community level. 

Ngeruka is one of the poorest sectors in the country. 

It is on this basis that Imbuto Foundation selected the cente to pilot the EMTCT and strengthen community involvement in the mother-to-child HIV transmission services. 

Key members in the advocacy meeting consisted of local leaders, Family Package clients, heads of health centres, community health workers and the Ministry of Health officials. 

The meeting saw presentations by Imbuto Foundation staff and peer educators, where they highlighted the important lessons they had picked up to support Ngeruka Health Centre. 

In the meeting, several points were stressed, including how grass root leaders can contribute to the development and the perfection of the model facility. 

Regina Iyamuremye, a board member of Imbuto Foundation, pledged continued support and advocacy of the organisation in order that they reduce the number of families suffering as a consequence of mother-to-child HIV/Aids transmission. 

Iyamuremye said by 2015 MTCT should be history in Rwanda.

"We can accomplish that if we all work hand in hand. Let us do that to give our children a bright future,” she said. 

"Please put everything we have discussed here into practice. Not only on a public level but also in your personal day to day lives,” Iyamuremye said.