HIV victims worried by stigma in schools

Through their organisation, the Rwandan Women Living with HIV/Aids, have called on government to come up with measures to reinforce the fight against stigma of people living with HIV, especially in boarding schools.Philomene Cyurinyana, the Executive Secretary of the organisation, called on government through the Ministry of Health to come up with a clear system that will facilitate students with HIV easily access drugs. “Such a system should also bring on board the Ministry of Education for proper coordination.”Cyurinyana said the news conference also marked the end of a three-day training on HIV drug access in secondary schools, Gender Based Violence and access to HIV services in health centres among others. The training attracted women representatives of Persons Living with HIV from various districts in the country.The training aimed at building the capacity of participants to properly advocate for the rights of people living with HIV, leadership skills as well as giving them information about access to HIV drugs. The trainees are also expected to play a role in sensitising PLWH to go for treatment, after it emerged that some people are reluctant to go for treatment, while others do not respect or follow medical instructions as prescribed.Some of the participants told The New Times that although a lot has been done in easing access to HIV drugs, some people still do not access the drugs, despite them being distributed free of charge. “There are some people who need these drugs, but with no information regarding where to get them yet they are free in public health centres,” said Clare Irwanda, the representative of PLWH in Nyabihu District.

National

HIV victims worried by stigma in schools