WESTERN PROVINCE NYAMASHEKE — Over 40 volunteers of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) have stepped up the Aids campaign in the Western Province. Speaking at a members’ meeting with some ADRA officials in Kanjongo Sector on Thursday, Louis Uzamuranga, who spoke on behalf of the rest, explained that they have formed various anti-Aids clubs in various Sectors in the area through which they would carry out their awareness campaign. The group is largely made up of local defence personnel and Police authorities. “We are determined as ADRA volunteers here in Kanjongo and Kagano sectors to further mobilise and encourage all residents to always work with us on fighting against Aids because its one of the main challenges that the African continent is facing today,” Uzamuranga said. David Murenzi, an official of ADRA urged those who were present to always carryout dialog in their respective homes on matters of Aids prevention and to mobilise and sensitise residents to join hands in the fight against the HIV/Aids virus. The official asked the group to encourage all residents to go for voluntary HIV/Aids testing in order to know their health status and to collaborate with other institutions in laying down serious strategies aimed at preventing the spread of the virus countrywide. According to Murenzi, the Uniformed Personnel and Prisoners project (UPP), working under ADRA, has trained 313 peer leaders in both Nyamasheke and Karongi districts who would also help to sensitise and mobilise residents to fight against Aids scourge. The project operating in Karongi and Nyamasheke districts has a target of training 3,000 local defence personnel, 1,600 soldiers and 200 policemen this year about Aids prevention. Ends
