PLWAs receive hybrid cattle

Twenty-four hybrid cattle have been handed over to people living with HIV/Aids in the Northern Province as part of the One-Cow-per-Family national programme, Friday. The cattle were donated by Compassion International, a US based non-governmental organisation, through an association of Christian faiths. The recipients, whose children are being supported by the NGO under its child survival programme, include 12 from Musanze District, nine from Burera District and three from Nyabihu District, According to Etienne Muhoza, a Compassion International representative, 78 cattle have so far been donated. “We are trying to reach out to all needy people in the country without discrimination and help improving their social welfare,” said Muhoza. Compassion International says that it supports 6689 children nationally. In a related development, a local NGO that promotes community based health care, Health Development Initiative (HDI), donated 36 Friesian cows worth over Rwf12 million to Persons Living with HIV/Aids (PLWAs) in Gicumbi District. The programme’s coordinator, Cassier Havugimana, handed over the cows in a move designed to help alleviate poverty among the beneficiaries, especially HIV affected communities. The programme is supported by the Global Fund through HDI, an organisation that provides grassroots healthcare support. The beneficiaries were selected from 12 associations that comprise PLWAs from four sectors in the district namely: Ruvune, Rubaya, Rukomo and Rwamiko. The programme is in the spirit of supporting government‘s cattle-stocking programme, best known as Gir’Inka. “For me, the support is a new lease of life. Some of us had already lost hope because we never thought of ever owning a cow. I can’t wait for the milk and manure for my gardens,” said an elated Donat Sibomana, a father of seven. bonny.mukombozi@newtimes.co.rw & Fred Ndoli fred.ndoli@newtimes.co.rw