HIV: Girls five times more at risk

Girls aged 20-24 are five times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys of the same age. This was revealed by Dr. Agnes Binagwawo, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the fight against HIV/AIDS (CNLS) Sunday during a function to award the best Anti-Aids Clubs drama competition at the Kimisagara Youth Centre. Quoting from a health survey conducted in 2005, Binagwaho said that there were many issues that influence girls into sexual intercourse with older people, like poverty and that even fellow girls seduce them into it. She added that girls should learn to say ‘NO’ and if not, have protected sex. APAPEGI Cyuru from Gicumbi district emerged best in the finals The focus of the competition was stopping cross generational sex through theatre. Binagwaho pointed out that the highest rate of HIV infection was found among men aged 40-44 which is believed by epidemiologists to be an indication that young women may get infected by older men, rather than by boys of their age. Organized by CNLS in collaboration with PSI/Rwanda and Rwandans Allied for Peace and Progress (RAPP), the programme dubbed‘ABAJENE’ (youth) aims at reducing HIV/AIDS incidence by increasing safer sex behavior among youth in and out of school and by engaging parents in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Claire Bisamaze, the Secretary General in the Ministry of Youth, urged the organizers and ORINFOR to show the drama on TV and act for the public because it is educative. A senior four student and actress of APAPEGI Cyuru, Solange Mukundwa, said that their winning piece was exciting and that they would continue acting for their fellow students and the public. “We shall improve the drama and even think of more,” she pledged. FAWE Girls School in Gasabo district emerged second. Other schools in the finals were E.S Mukingi from Ruhango district, Higo from Rubavu district, G.S Kigombe from Musanze district and College Inyemerami. The best school in each theme (two themes) was promised to have its play made into a short film. In addition, all the six plays will be included in a booklet of best plays from the competition for distribution. The six schools were also given certificates of participation and money basing on the position held. Ends