Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), through the Ministry of Health (MoH), is carrying out the first national survey on, behavioural, clinical, and biologic indicator for HIV/Aids.The survey that kicked off in mid June has been so far conducted in two provinces that is Western and Northern and will soon be in other provinces.Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the head of HIV, STI and other ‘blood borne infections division at RBC, said the survey seeks to as baseline for HIV-1 incidence data from group study that will generate a real figure of the HIV/Aids epidemic dynamics in the country.“The survey will be conducted to provide population based estimates of HIV prevalence and HIV occurrence as well as behavioral risk factors, like syphilis, gonorrhea and others sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs).This will help in the HIV National Strategic Plan which will guide decision makers and programmers in the elaboration and improvement of policies to address HIV.He said the results from the study will provide useful data for program planning and evaluation of these infections, HIV indicators are not currently available at national level; the data from the survey will help in effective monitoring and evaluation of national HIV/Aids programmes in Rwanda“This will help us to track progress towards achieving the National Strategic Plan goal and the millennium development goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV/ Aids by 2015.” he added.The survey population will include all women (15-49) and men (15-59) who consent to be interviewed and tested and who are residents of the sampled households.The survey will be carried out into two categories; the first category will be measuring blood samples, question and answer, 13,000 people will test on syphilis and CD4 testing. The on going programme is still remaining with three months to end and after a period of one year the survey will continue to get the report on the new infection in the second round in September next year.
