Anti-HIV campaign gains momentum as condoms become more available

KIGALI - The Government has intensified HIV/Aids prevention programmes across the country, with an aim of drastically reducing its prevalence rate. As the world marked the World Aids Day, on December 1, Rwanda launched a three-month public campaign, aimed at mobilising masses to undergo voluntary HIV testing, and to embrace preventive measures, such as condom use. Recently, the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS) introduced condom vending machines in the country, and is already installing at least 700 machines across the country. The machines are particularly being installed in hotels, lodges, bars, night clubs and restaurants. And, those behind the campaign are convinced that more people will now feel more comfortable to obtain condoms since they will be privately accessing them, as opposed to buying them from shopkeepers. The process is user-friendly; you only need to deposit coins worth Rwf300 into the machine and it dispenses a packet. Speaking to journalists recently, CNLS Executive Secretary, Dr Anita Asiimwe, said that the initial 69 machines, distributed in different areas during the pilot phase, were well received by the public. She said that the Commission will strengthen its campaign on the use of condoms, especially among students. Jean Pierre Nsabimana, 32, a special hire taxi driver, welcomed the new strategy to promote condom use. “People usually shy from going to shops to buy condoms but the use of vending machines will promote their use, hence lessening chances of attracting the virus,’ he said.Immaculee Musabiyaremye, 26, an airtime vendor, said condoms are helpful, especially to people who are unable to abstain – the best preventive measure so far. At the same time, the Government is laying firm strategies to have 738,683 adults and newborns circumcised in the near future, and at least two million males circumcised by 2012. The Government is promoting male circumcision a way of reducing the spread of HIV and other STDs following a recommendation by the World Health Organization, based on research that circumcised men have a 60 percent-risk free chance of not acquiring the virus during sexual intercourse. “We have already developed a male catch-up plan that will enable us reach the target by the end of June in 2012, but this does not mean that when you are circumcised you don’t contract the virus, the chances just go down,” Assimwe told The New Times recently. Plans are also underway to strengthen the Mother-to-Child HIV prevention programmes. According to 2005 statistics, HIV prevalence rate in the country stands at around 3 percent. Ends