Police in anti-HIV/Aids campaign

Rwamagana-The National Police of Rwanda (RNP), yesterday, conducted an anti-HIV/Aids sensitisation campaign in Rwamagana through sports and entertainment. Speaking during the event, the Director of Kacyiru Police Hospital, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dr. Daniel Nyamaswa, said the combination of education and entertainment makes learning about HIV/AIDS a more engaging experience for young people. He said that the youth are also encouraged to take an active role for their protection. Dr. Nyamaswa said that HIV testing was vital to ascertain one’s HIV status, and behave according to required norms. “We encourage people to test so that when positive, they are ready for available antiretroviral drugs. Those found negative are encouraged to abstain or use condoms...we must be vigilant because at least three percent of Rwanda’s population, is HIV positive,” he said. He further said that part of the campaign includes sensitising men to get circumcised as a way of limiting the spread of HIV. “Scientific trials have shown that male circumcision can reduce a man’s risk of HIV infection by up to 60 percent...It is a big reduction. We are telling people to overcome cultural barriers and embrace circumcision,” he said. Dr. Claude Ndagijimana of Rwamagana hospital said that the turn up for circumcision was still low, and that HIV testing among men was low compared to women in all areas with HIV testing facilities. Omar Murangw,a, one of those who volunteered to test said that he wanted to know his status and also get circumcised “It’s high time men went for circumcision, you know it is partly ignorance about the advantages of circumcision that has kept some of us away from it,” he said. The event was sponsored by Global Fund through the Ministry of Health. Ends