Experts: No room for complacency in Aids fight

There shouldn’t be room for complacency if the fight to eliminate HIV/Aids is to ever achieve victory. The remarks were made yesterday during a media briefing in Kigali on the role the media can play in fighting the disease. “The rise in infections among adolescents, stigma, gender based violence have to be fought off, if HIV /Aids will ever be completely eliminated,” said Sibongile Dludlu, the Unaids country director. Dr Sibongile Dludlu, UNAIDS Country Director explaining why HIV prevalence is high amongst women in Sub-Saharan Africa. The event was part of activities to mark the World Aids Day marked annually on December 1, with the main national event slated for tomorrow. In Rwanda, more than 135,000 adults and 8,000 children living with HIV are on anti-retroviral therapy. HIV prevalence stands at 3 per cent. Over the past 10 years, there has been a 50 per cent reduction of HIV prevalence. 2.(L-R)Dr Sibongile Dludlu, UNAIDS Country Director, Mr. Lamin M. Manneh UN Resident Coordinator, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana (C ), Head of HIV, STI and Other Blood Borne Infections Division, Rwanda Bio Medical Center, Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo Executive Secretary of Media High Council at the workshop on the role of media in disseminating information on HIV AIDS. Studies conducted between 2013 and 2014 revealed that 83 per cent of persons on ARVs had undetectable viral loads and treatment programmes had retained over 92 per cent of HIV-positive persons in care after two full years of treatment. This is the highest level in the world. “Between July 2013 and June this year, the number of health facilities offering voluntary testing and counselling increased from 493 to 544 facilities, making 99 per cent of national coverage,” said Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the head of HIV division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). Andre Gakwaya of the Rwanda News Agency asking about the government’s plan to fight the HIV prevalence rate amongst the youth. A report by RBC shows that during the same time, 3,060,590 tests were performed and the overall HIV positivity rate was 0.8 per cent. Fifty-five per cent of these were women. The report adds that health facilities offering PMTCT (preventing mother to child transmission) services increased from 488 to 494, making 96 per cent of national coverage. Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo Executive Secretary of Media High Council speaking at the workshop yesterday. “The fight to wipe HIV/Aids from the face of earth can never be won if the media do not play their part of disseminating related information,” said Muhayimpundu Ribakare, the director of HIV care and treatment at RBC. Since 2003, the trend of the HIV male partners testing in PMTCT programmes has increased consistently. By June 2014, 84 per cent male partners of pregnant women were counseled and tested for HIV, a fivefold increase compared to 16 per cent recorded in 2003. (L-R) Mr. Lamin M. Manneh UN Resident Coordinator pledges more support to the media fraternity especially in facilitating them to report more on HIV AIDS issues. The report further adds that by the end of June 2014, the HIV National Programme had enrolled out a total of 2,212 children in the pre-ART programme, and 7,853 are currently on ART. Some 133,574 adults and adolescents are currently on ART. Dr Nsanzimana said during the same period (July 2013 and June 2014), 11,273,800 male condoms and 45,020 female condoms were distributed through the public sector, while 12,112,976 male condoms were distributed through social marketing efforts. Daniel Alemu, Deputy Representative of UNFPA Rwanda explaining how male circumcision is helping in reducing HIV prevalence. This year’s Day is being marked under the national theme, “Role of Media in early HIV treatment to reduce Aids related morbidity and mortality.” The 2014 national theme is in line with the global theme, “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An Aids-free generation,” and also with 2013-2018 National HIV Strategic Plan goals of lowering the new infection rate by two-thirds, halving the number of HIV-related deaths per year and ensuring that people living with HIV have the same opportunities as others, according to the Ministry of Health. Dr Placide Mugwaneza, Director of HIV Prevention Unit, Rwanda Biomedical Centre explaining how condom use in Rwanda is helping in curbing down the HIV prevalence in Rwanda. (Photos by Doreen Umutesi) The Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, said the media provide a platform that enables information to reach large numbers of people. “The media have the potential to influence social norms that affect negatively HIV prevention and treatment strategies but also create a platform for dialogue at the population level,” Dr Binagwaho said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw