PM Ngirente calls for innovative efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Prime minister Dr Edouard Ngirente has elaborated on how Rwanda has taken major strides in fighting the HIV virus, which he commends that should continue and innovative new methods of enhancing the fight. This was mentioned during the publication of new research on HIV AIDS in Rwanda. 

Some of the highlights of the research reveal that HIV is still on about 3% among Rwandan citizens, which is about 210.000 of the population.

The Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (RPHIA) survey results which were officially released yesterday, show that Rwanda has made great strides towards achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets set for 2020, reaching 84-98-90, demonstrating successful efforts in linkage to treatment and care for people living with HIV. 

HIV infection among women is at 3,7% while men are at 2.2%. The rate of reduction of HIV in the blood is about 76%. The Director-General of RBC Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana also explained that the new HIV virus rate is at 0.08% which gives hope but says that more needs to be done.

“The second figure is of those who getting HIV infection per year. In 2014, figures revealed that new infections were 2 in 1000 people, which was about 10k people with new infections per year. Now the new figures reveal that, that percentile is on 0.008% which is about 1 person in 1000 per year, which is a contrast to the year 2014, they reduced from 10k to 5k. it’s a good figure but it is also worrying that 5000 people get infected with HIV AIDS per year. With all the measures at hand, the figure is still high we need to tackle it differently” Dr. Nsanzimana said. 

The prime minister said that the research was an indicator that Rwanda was among the first countries in fighting HIV AIDS, which was an indispensable path to take.

"As it is our practice, Rwanda has been promoting evidence-based decisions built on transparency, and involvement of all stakeholders.  Rwanda is on track to achieve Joint United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS targets for the year 2020," PM Ngirente said. 

He added, "We are performing well in the fight against HIV. However, we need to maintain our efforts, improve on our approaches and become even more innovative in looking for better solutions."

Among those working in the health sector and those working in the fight against HIV AIDS shared insight that such publications help in knowing the state of the nation when it comes to the disease.

In Rwanda at least 40% of men are circumcised, the percentile was at 30 in 2015 and 13 in 2010. In Kigali, circumcised men are at 62%.

The RPHIA research was conducted by the ministry of health in partnership with CDC and  ICAP between October last and march this year, among 30k citizens in 11k households. 1983 is the year the first person was infected with HIV in Rwanda.