Bwiza entertaining the crowd during the HIV campaign
The media personnel alongside movie stars and music icons with public figures have been initiated towards government awareness campaign against HIV prevalence that is alarming among the youth.
The government has enlisted the support of public figures in its campaign to raise awareness about the alarming prevalence of HIV among youth. Media personnel, movie stars, music icons, and other prominent individuals are joining forces with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and other stakeholders to spearhead this year’s initiative.
In collaboration with media personnel, social media influencers, medical reporters, singers, and dramatists, the campaign aims to reach a wide audience and deliver crucial information about HIV prevention and treatment. By harnessing the influence and reach of public figures, the government hopes to make significant strides in combating the spread of HIV and promoting healthier lifestyles among the youth
Recent figures by RBC indicate that 219,000 are HIV positive in the country with a significant portion of young individuals within the school age bracket of 15- 24 years which the government has strategically applied combative means to bring down the figures.
The Kigali dwellers top up as the most affected by HIV followed by the Eastern provinces particularly Rwamagana district, Nyagatare and Gatsibo district respectively. For instance, in a population of 484, 953 inhabited in Rwamagana district a total of 5000 residents are HIV positive.
Dr Ikuzo Basile, the Director of HIV Prevention Unit at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) says the engagement of the public figure is a government’s strategy to capture the minds of the youth in the eradication of the HIV alarming figures. The officials are optimistic that the engagement of public figures as an awareness strategy will bring positive results in the long term.
“Of course, you cannot get the results in the shorter term” he said optimistically adding “when we look back prior to the awareness campaign the figures were alarmingly higher in contrast to the current trend whereby the HIV prevalence rate has lowered.”
On another hand, the celebrities believe in themselves, promising that their engagement will not be vainful.
“You cannot excite the fans without having a healthy life. It means we must preach what we practice by preventing AIDS. And regardless of the excitement of the congregation on the stage, we the singers encourage the safer sex to our fans whenever on the stage which they pick and implement with ease,” said Nemeye Platini, a local music celebrity.
Akingeneye Louise, the radio dramatist famously known in the Kura Ujye Ejuru on Radio Rwanda echoes her counterpart. She noted that the public figures have the power to influence the public in an easy manner without much effort required.
“The celebrities have a big fan base of followers among the communities so they follow their role models steps when they tell them something,” Akingenye commented.
The Demographic and Health Survey, Supplemental Report for HIV Prevalence 2019-2020 indicated that four percent of respondents in urban areas are infected with HIV, as compared with 3% of those in rural areas.
The similar report indicates the HIV prevalence is higher in the City of Kigali (4%) than in the other provinces (2% to 3%).
The Global UNAIDS report 2023, released in July 2023, ranked Rwanda as one of five African countries that achieved the 95-95-95 targets, with an estimated 95% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 97.5% receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 98% achieving viral load suppression.
Rwanda targets to have a country free of AIDS by 2030.