Youth vow to champion fight against HIV/Aids

KARONGI-Youth in Karongi District attending a civic training programme commonly known as Ingando have resolved to further contain the spread of HIV/AIDS through concerted efforts in raising awareness. Joseline Umutoni, one of the Senior Six graduates attending the civic training programme at a Teacher Training Centre in Rubengera Sector noted that community health education helps in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. “A community-based approach in which both parents and children are helped to understand the importance of knowing their HIV status, along with information on other important issues is a crucial battle against the pandemic,” she observed. Umutoni explained that the initiative should begin with the youth abstaining from premarital sex or using condoms if necessary. Another student, Jean Paul Murenzi said that HIV prevention goes hand in hand with social and economic development. “People who are healthy and free from HIV are bound to consolidate activities of development value that make a contribution towards community empowerment,” Murenzi said. Statistics show that at least 170,000 people are living with HIV in Rwanda, and the youth, as the country’s future leaders have vowed to take an aggressive stance on HIV prevention. It is estimated that without an approach for early prevention, identification and treatment, half of all children diagnosed with HIV would die before their second birthday. sam.nkurunziza@newtimes.co.rw

National

Youth vow to champion fight against HIV/Aids