The government of Rwanda through Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and other partners has launched a three months long national campaign to fight against HIV/AIDS among the youth.
This was in relation with the World Aids Day that was marked December 1, 2011.
Over 5000 youth in the city of Kigali including high school leavers who are currently undergoing the civic education (ingando) participated in the event that started with the peace walk from Kaciru round about to Petit Stade, Remera.
Dr. Anita Asiimwe the Deputy Director General of RBC told the press that the campaign will go through all secondary schools and universities, and all villages under the assistance of local and youth leaders.
Asiimwe also demonstrated that since 2008 to the end of the year 2011, new HIV infections among the youth has reduced by 50% of which she noted it was a big achievement.
Jados Habimana one of the youth that attended the launch said “I think the mobilization will creates awareness among some of us who never knew much about AIDS and how it can be controlled like using of condoms.”
Mashirika Creative and Performing Arts Group and other group of local artists delivered HIV/AIDS related messages in form of entertainment.
In a recent press conference, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that HIV infection were at 50% among young generation between 15 and 24 years, which meant between 5000-6000 new infections every day across the world.
According to Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC); the same age group HIV prevalence was estimated at the rate of 1.0% relatively lower than many other countries.
These figures varied from 1.5% among women to 0.4% among men. Meaning that 380 women in this category are infected over every 100 men.
In the same press conference Dr Asiimwe announced that a new behavioral studies among youth in Rwanda, which showed the proportion of young men and women aged between 15-24 years who are sexually active, the number increased from 34% to 39% among young men and from 20 to 26% among young women between the year 2006 and 2009 respectively.
The study show different factors as lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, lack of educating and life skills, poor access to health services and commodities, early sexual debut, early marriage, sexual coercion and violence.
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