MUSANZE — The National Aids Control Commission (CNLS) in partnership with other stakeholders in the fight against HIV/Aids, has drawn up a four–year national strategic plan against Aids. The 2009/2012 plan was drawn up on Thursday after a three-day meeting which was attended by different partners. The director of planning, in CNLS, Fulgence Afrika said that the operational framework will involve identifying intervention activities, the actors involved, the general timeframe and the budget estimates. Afrika noted that the plan aims at ensuring that each sector makes the most appropriate contribution in the fight against the disease. The national strategic plan outlines results that are expected by 2012. It envisages halving HIV infection and reducing mortality rates among people living with HIV by 2012. It also focuses on ensuring that people infected and affected by HIV/Aids get equal opportunities within different spheres of life. According to the 2008 epidemic update from the CNLS, the total number of people living with HIV in Rwanda stands at about 149,000 some 17,000 of whom are children. The estimated Aids related deaths stands at about 6,300 according to the same report. Mathew Greenall, a consultant on the implementation operation observed that all actors must own the implementation strategy as a guideline of their operation. He called for technical support and capacity building programmes for those involved in implementing HIV strategic plan at the community levels. Ends
