Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders has handed over its euros 3.2million (approx Frw2.3bn) HIV/Aids project to the Ministry of Health. MSF is an international humanitarian aid organisation providing emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries. “Because of MSF efforts, we currently have more than forty thousand people using antiretroviral drugs and have registered more than 90 percent adherence,” Dr Innocent Nyaruhirira, the State Minister in charge of HIV/Aids and Other Epidemic Diseases, said on Thursday at Hotel Novotel during the handover ceremony. He said that due to its generosity, MSF gave away anti-retroviral drugs at a time when only the rich could access them. The MSF HIV/Aids project has been operating in Rwanda since 2005.With its operation in Kimironko and Kinyinya Health Centres in Gasabo District, the project has been catering for 6,200 people living with HIV/Aids. 2,840 of the patients are adults and 273 children are on antiretroviral treatment. In the health centres, children have gradually received psychosocial support as a means of efficient treatment.Dr Johan Van Griensven, MSF’s clinical doctor, said that although the organisation has had a positive experience in Rwanda, there is still need to increase dialogue between children and parents on the realities of HIV/Aids. “Children need to be told the truth about their status. Through sharing their vision of life, fears, dreams and needs, this will help in effectively handling their condition,” Van Griensven said. By providing humanitarian assistance, MSF seeks also to raise awareness of crisis situations. It sets out to alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to restore and ensure respect for the human beings and their fundamental human rights. Ends
