Raising Awareness: Students at GS Kinyinya Join the Fight Against AIDS

Students at Groupe Scolaire Kinyinya, located in the Gasabo District’s Kinyinya Sector, have been urged to oppose and avoid sexual intercourse, as it is one of the quickest ways to contract the AIDS virus.

This initiative is part of a campaign against AIDS organized by Réseau des Femmes to commemorate International AIDS Day, which is celebrated annually on December 1st. The campaign took place at GS Kinyinya, a school with over 3,800 primary and secondary students.

This initiative is part of the SDS-Rwanda project, which Réseau des Femmes implements in collaboration with the Canadian organization L’AMIE, with support from Global Affairs Canada.

Students at the school reported that they learned a great deal about AIDS, its modes of transmission, and other relevant information.

Ndayisenga Jacques, a fourth-year secondary school student, stated, “This campaign is important for preventing AIDS, and I have gained a lot from it. They taught us how AIDS is transmitted and how it affects the human body.” He added, “I took precautions to avoid unprotected sex.”

Kaliza Pamela expressed that she concluded the importance of taking precautions to avoid sexual intercourse.

Aimée Beata Mushimiyimana, the Head Teacher of GS Kinyinya, expressed her satisfaction with the campaign, noting that the knowledge imparted to the children will help them in their future lives. She said, “Education is a process of continuous learning. It is in this context that we hope this campaign will continue so that the young people we raise here can have sufficient information, especially regarding reproductive health and the fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.”

Mukeshimana Seraphine, the SRHR-Rwanda project coordinator at Réseau des Femmes, emphasized that their information dissemination includes community campaigns and education in public spaces. She stated, “Today’s campaign was to remind young people that the AIDS virus is present. They often don’t take it seriously and engage in risky behaviors because it is perceived as a long-standing illness. We hope this will help children strengthen their measures to prevent this epidemic.”

Uwimana Marie Chantal, In charge of Social Affaires in Kinyinya sector, mentioned that various methods are employed to convey information to young people about AIDS prevention and reproductive health, enabling them to grow up informed and capable of making safe choices. She stated, “What we should do is make efforts to provide information, because there comes a time when people think that AIDS is no longer a serious disease. However, when people are informed, they understand that new infections still occur and that they can take action; it’s not the end of the story.”

She urged students to avoid the risk of HIV infection. Statistics from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) indicate that among the five thousand people infected each year, 35% are young people, highlighting the need for a more extensive campaign.

RBC reports that over 220,000 people across Rwanda are currently taking antiretroviral drugs, with 95% of them doing so effectively. Additionally, 90% show positive changes in reducing the intensity of the HIV virus.

During the celebration of International AIDS Day on December 1, 2024, the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, noted that among 100 people who die each day, seven die from AIDS.