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Dr Golbrt Mutuyimana
Rwamagana: The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) brought together students from five secondary schools in the center of Rwamagana on April 28 to enhance their knowledge in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And the Director of Rwamagana Hospital, Dr. Gilbert Mutuyimana, informed that according to a study carried out by RBC in 2019, new HIV/AIDS infections reach 33% in a sample of young people aged 15 to 24. Such an increase requires more commitment to act to protect youth.
“When you have unprotected sex with an infected person, there is a 95% chance of getting HIV/AIDS. It is important to approach young people and make them aware of the urgency of practicing safer sex, of getting tested to find out their serological status. In case of seropositivity, one submits to the regime of ARVs. If one tests negative, one takes precautions to observe continence, fidelity, or protected intercourse. When ARVs are taken correctly, the virus eventually becomes undetectable and untransmittable. When a mother is pregnant or breast-feeding while she is HIV-positive, she takes ARVs so as not to infect her child. The virus cannot be pathogenic to contaminate the child. Because he is annihilated. Young people should also undergo circumcision which reduces the risk of infection to 60%. It is good for young people to remain healthy in the body in order to prepare for their future,” insisted Dr. Mutuyimana.
He recalled that circumcision can be practiced in males at any age: baby, child or adult and even after 50 and 60 years. Older men need not fear getting circumscribed when they haven’t done so sooner.
Dr Mutiyimana recalled that the test was quick. “Oraquick” can be done by anyone who wants to know their HIV status in 20 minutes. Directions are on the package. You can even do it at home. If you notice that you are positive, you are advised to go to the Health Center to receive the treatment guidelines to be observed.
“For married people, the answer is not separation in the event of a discordant couple. One of the spouses tested positive takes ARVs correctly so as not to contaminate his partner, just as the pregnant or nursing mother does so as not to contaminate her child. We thus practice a double protection by giving treatment to the other non-infected partner”, indicated Dr Mutuyimana.
For the Vice-Mayor Jeanne Umutoni in charge of social affairs, sensitization against HIV/AIDS is aimed at uneducated and educated youth.
“We go down to the grassroots communities to reach the young people of our schooling. We have youth centres: there, the condom is distributed free of charge. Circumcision is also free there. Then we deliver awareness messages to deal with HIV/AIDS. Avoid too much alcohol and drugs that prevent self-control and lead to contact with the HIV virus. A call to circumcision is addressed to adults to push them to circumcision. We still have many uncircumcised men and young people in the community who are urged to be circumscribed,” Vice Mayor Umutoni said.
Sometimes also football matches are organized between the sectors of Rwamagana. “This is an opportunity to hold a campaign to raise awareness about circumcision. Young people benefit from this service on site. They follow various advice to cope with HIV/AIDS. There is no need to be ashamed and afraid. HIV/AIDS is a danger. Prevention is the best way to deal with the scourge,” she continued.
“Another wish to make to RBC is to support us in reinstalling advertising signs calling on young girls to say no to men who make advances to them to offer them money and telephones intended to bribe them and give them HIV/AIDS virus. These signs are useful and maintain an alert conscience to avoid AIDS at every turn of the road and of life. The same signs help to avoid various partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS in order to reduce new infections,” said the Vice Mayor of Social Affairs.
Note that RBC met in Rwamagana more than 400 students from five secondary schools: Groupe Scolaire Nyarusange, GS Lutheran, GS Rwamagana, GS Protestant, GS St Aloys.
These students find RBC’s messages and its visit to Rwamagana effective. Jimmy Ntakirutimana, 16, a student in 2nd secondary was able to get tested quickly and found that he is negative. His friend too. They are determined to always avoid HIV/AIDS and devote themselves to their studies which prepare them for a good future. Their knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention was general and imprecise. RBC’s visit enabled them to be strengthened.
This is also the case of the young Mariam, 20 years old, from the Islamic School. For her, the visit from RBC allowed her to better protect herself. She did not know that in case of rape or accidental unprotected sex, she must go to the Health Center within 72 hours in order to receive appropriate treatment that cancels HIV / AIDS, especially when she was negative . (END)
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