On this Tuesday 12 November 2019, UmC in partnership with UNAIDS and Gasabo district conducted a dialogue with residents of Gatsata Sector on accelerating efforts to prevent new HIV infections, eliminating stigma and discrimination.

Residents waiting for HIV test

Registry book for  residents in Kiderenka zone

Exercise on Voluntary HIV testing and Counseling

In an event which targeted the Key population, residents of a place  known as Kiderenka zone participated in a free HIV testing and counseling exercise, where more than 40 male sand females were tested on HIV and counseled. The Director of health Unit in Gasabo District, Alphonse RUTARINDWA informed residents of Kiderenka on HIV infection and its consequences on national development. He also reminded Kiderenka residents on the consequences of HIV Stigma and discrimination towards people affected by  HIV.

Jean Baptiste Ndahiriwe a resident of Gatsata, Kiderenka zone Said that he, as well as colleagues are committed to to advocating for the end of new HIV infection by mobilization their neighbors .

“We have  acquired important lessons here, most of us do not care about our colleagues’ life, you find us enjoying without taking care of the consequences ahead. We only care about HIV when we encounter with someone already infected . ” Ndahiriwe added that they have  now acquired  many lessons and they commit to play a role in the effort to  end new HIV infections and mobilize their colleagues and neighbors on the consequences of HIV Stigma and discrimination.

Umurage Communication for Development (UmC) in partnership with UNAIDS-Rwanda have embarked on a Social and behavior communications campaign named “Birashoka” that will focus on accelerating efforts to prevent new HIV infections, eliminating stigma and discrimination, strengthening strategic partnerships targeting key and priority populations in Kigali City. The project is being implemented in Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro districts from October 2019 to December 2019.

RUTARINDWA Alphonse, Director of Health Unit in Gasabo district in a dialogue on HIV prevention with residents of Gatsata sector/Kiderenka