The campaign dubbed Free To Shine was recently initiated by the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS aiming at ending mother to child transmission of HIV by 2030.
Launching the drive in Kigali Monday, First Lady Jeannette Kagame urged parents and health workers to embrace the fight to ensure that no single child acquires HIV at birth.
She especially encouraged all pregnant women to routinely go for antenatal care in health facilities and make sure they give birth from there.
Acknowledging the contribution of partners over the years, Mrs Kagame said, Rwanda is on track to zero new infections by 2020 and to the eradication of HIV by 2030.
“Indeed, the interventions and resources poured into initiatives geared towards reducing new infections have helped reduce the national prevalence rate from a double digit number, to a 3% national average. It is imperative that we keep the momentum,” she said.
The gathering of about 2500 at Petit Stade in Remera also received messages on HIV transmission, ending pediatric HIV/AIDS, family planning methods, condoms distribution and HIV testing services.
Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba efforts invested have led to a drop in mother-to-child infections from 4.3% in 2011 to 1.5% currently.
Free To Shine campaign is supported by the African Union in its goals for equitable development.
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