We must prevent HIV infection in children to ensure AIDS-free generation – Minister

The State Minister for Primary and Public Health, Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi, has said that HIV prevention through continuous education on prevention and treatment among children is one of the main strategies toward attaining an AIDS-free generation by 2030. Ndimubanzi made the remarks, yesterday, while officiating at the national event to mark the World Aids Day at Camp Kigali in Nyarugenge District. “The general objective of this year’s campaign is to reduce new HIV infections and to improve care and treatment among children and adolescents by reinforcing their access to and utilisation of HIV services,” he said. Some of the stakeholders at the launch of World Aids Day event. Rwanda commemorated this year’s World Aids Day under the theme, “It’s everyone’s responsibility to prevent and treat HIV among our children and adolescents.” December 1 also marks the beginning of a 10-month sensitisation campaign on HIV prevention, which will be done mainly through community outreach activities and using the mass media. So far, Rwanda is making remarkable progress toward the attainment of HIV treatment, with adult treatment coverage standing at 80 per cent. According to estimates by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), only 44.2 per cent of all HIV infected children are on treatment. As the goal is for the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Rwanda is striving to attain the 90-90-90 target programme; that is, 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90 per cent of people who know their HIV-positive status are accessing treatment and 90 per cent of all levels people on treatment have suppressed viral loads, according to Ndimubanzi. Dr Ndimubanzi speaks at the event. (F. Niyigena) The UNAIDS country director, Dr Sibongile Dludlu, said, globally, infected children and adolescents who are on treatment stand between 15 and 55 per cent, noting that Rwanda—at 44.2 per cent—is well placed. “There is goodwill and strong interventions for children living with HIV in Rwanda, but we can only do better to attain the 90-90-90 target if we need to ensure an AIDS-free generation by 2030,” said Dr Sibongile. The City of Kigali Vice Mayor for Finance and Economic Development, Alphonse Nizeyimana, said the City authorities would encourage people to use condoms if they must have sex. Children display placards with messages of fight against HIV-AIDS. “We are going to work with different stakeholders to ensure that all public places have condom collection points; we have found out that the managers of such meeting places have been reluctant in ensuring the availability of condoms,” said Nizeyimana. Rwanda has managed to contain HIV prevalence among the general population aged 15-49 years by keeping it at a stable 3 per cent for the last 10 years, according to Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). Over 80% of adults in need of antiretroviral treatment are receiving the life-saving drugs, the centre says. Dream Boys group perform during the launch of World Aids Day event. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena) The RBC survey also indicated that prevalence is higher among women, at 3.7 per cent, than men at 2.2 per cent. In Kigali, HIV prevalence is at 7.1 per cent compared to rural areas, where prevalence stands at 2.3 per cent, figures show. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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We must prevent HIV infection in children to ensure AIDS-free generation – Minister