Rwanda Biomedical centre (RBC) with Rwanda Health organised the media engagement campaign against HIV among the youth. The campaign started from April 21-30/2023, in Kigali City and Eastern Province (Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Rwamagana.)

This campaign with aim to eliminating new infections, improving the health, awareness for Youth to fight HIV and promote health. Rwandan youths have been urged to engage in the fight of HIV/AIDS and testing regularly to know their HIV status so that the affected ones can start taking drugs on time, and avoid being aggravated by the disease situation.

“...there are those who have been infected and others who are not infected will do. if they are not close to them and that is the way they will become infected because there is no protection when there is a campaign and condoms are still available so you know there are survivors. He continues to say that both the youth and the challenges of Rukomo are the same." Nyirinkindi Erneste, in charge of HIV/AIDS Prevention and awareness campaign at The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)

" And the condoms we are standing and will continue to campaign for the youth to prevent the HIV virus, but it requires the efforts of the local government in conjunction with the management of the Rukomo Health Center so that it can be achieved." He added.

Why youths should know about their HIV status?

For youth who test negative, testing services can connect them to HIV prevention resources. Youth who test positive can be connected to health services and take medicine to treat HIV. Youth Need to Know their HIV Status to Stay Healthy. HIV is a disease that does not discriminate. Anyone can contract this disease, which is why it is important for Youth to be AWARE of how to protect themselves and prevent the transmission of HIV. HIV prevention programmes aim to stop the transmission of HIV.

A survey conducted by Rwanda Biomedical Centre in 2020 indicates that youths do not attend testing services of HIV, and those who test positive do not go for medication as prescribed by the medical practitioners. Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment indicated that 1.2 percent of girls aged 15-24 are HIV positive while the boys’ rate stands at 0.5 percent.

All these interventions contribute to reducing their vulnerability to HIV and increases their power of negotiation for protected Sex. Such deliberate interventions are vital to continue advocating for a conducive and enabling environment to equitable and high-quality health access to HIV services to the Population in Rwanda.

Over the last 15 years, HIV Prevalence among the general population in Rwanda has been stabilized and maintained at 3% and even less according to gender and age. According to recent findings from the Rwanda Population based HIV Impact Assessment (RPHIA) conducted in 2019, the overall prevalence among people aged 15-64 was 3%; and 3.5% in women and 2% in men. It indicates a decrease prevalence to 2.6% among adult people aged 15-49.