Pediatric Conference highlights need for collective responsibility in AIDS fight.
Kigali- 16, November, 2009-The 5th annual National Pediatric Conference on Children Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS which opened Monday will try to find workable approaches to improving the treatment, care and support of children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, who represented Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, opened the conference urging for collective responsibility to halt and begin the reverse of the spread of HIV.
She affirmed the government’s commitment to reducing HIV infection among the youth: “We are determined to take significant steps to prevent new infections…as part of the efforts to have HIV-free generation,” she said, adding that it requires concerted efforts by all partners so as to transform the national strategic plan against AIDS into action. The minister further urged participants to embrace education, abstinence, being faithful and condom use in order to prevent HIV infection.
The Executive Secretary of the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS) Dr Anita Asiimwe, said that there is remarkable progress in making antiretroviral drugs more accessible to children who are infected with HIV-in order to reduce suffering and prolong the children’s lifespan. She called for more openness among parents when speaking to their children about sexuality, adding that HIV Aids is a scourge that needs concerted efforts.
The Senior Prevention Advisor of UNAIDS Karusa Kiragu praised Rwanda for being a country that has made great strides in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.
“Rwanda has set very strong targets and they have shown that they know how go about with these targets. This has been especially in the areas of extensive systems of monitoring,” she said
The three-day conference under the theme “Count Down to 2015 targets for children and HIV-Achieving MDG6” aims to understand and review the existing national mechanisms of the implementation of the MDG6 for children and HIV including exploring mechanisms of strengthening the areas that are still weak in the field of the four programmatic components of children and HIV, according to a press release from CNLS. Over 350 participants, including policy makers, researchers, children, health workers and NGOs are attending the conference.
“Rwanda has set very strong targets and they have shown that they know how go about with these targets. This has been especially in the areas of extensive systems of monitoring,” she said
The three-day conference under the theme “Count Down to 2015 targets for children and HIV-Achieving MDG6” aims to understand and review the existing national mechanisms of the implementation of the MDG6 for children and HIV including exploring mechanisms of strengthening the areas that are still weak in the field of the four programmatic components of children and HIV, according to a press release from CNLS. Over 350 participants, including policy makers, researchers, children, health workers and NGOs are attending the conference.
Representatives of children yesterday requested that they actively be involved in monitoring funds meant to educate vulnerable children at sector and lower levels of administration.The children made the remarks yesterday during the fifth national pediatrics conference at a session that sought to collect their views on how funds from development partners can reach the right beneficiaries.
Read more: Children demand active role in determining their future
Kigali, November 16-The Executive Secretary of the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS), Dr. Anita Asiimwe has urged youth to stand firm and say no to sexual advances from adults commonly referred to as ‘sugar mummies’ and ‘sugar daddies.’
“I have heard that other young girls are lured with simple gifts…why should you accept that,” she said to an audience of mainly youth at Kigali Serena Hotel on Monday. Dr Anita Asiimwe was speaking at the 5th pediatric conference on the theme: “Cross-generation sex and the challenges for HIV prevention among youth and adolescents in Rwanda”. She urged youth participants to educate their peers on dangers of cross-generation sex, adding that children should instead focus on their future.
“I have heard that other young girls are lured with simple gifts…why should you accept that,” she said to an audience of mainly youth at Kigali Serena Hotel on Monday. Dr Anita Asiimwe was speaking at the 5th pediatric conference on the theme: “Cross-generation sex and the challenges for HIV prevention among youth and adolescents in Rwanda”. She urged youth participants to educate their peers on dangers of cross-generation sex, adding that children should instead focus on their future.
Tous contre les sugar daddies et les sugar mammies
Read more: Tous contre les sugar daddies et les sugar mammies
Musicians lighten up the 5th National Paediatric ConferenceLive music performances and drama characterized the opening of the 5th National Paediatric Conference on Monday at the Kigali Serena Hotel.
Renowned Rwandan artists like Masamba, The Ben, Miss Jojo and others treated guests to a powerful music performance that passed a message calling upon parents to be open while talking to children about HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
Before the music, University Centre for Arts, a group based in the Southern Province, performed drama and comedy that showed children demonstrating against parents not being open to their children on the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Close to ten famous Rwandan artists collaborated in a song that advocated for responsible parenthood. The excited audience danced as The Ben chorused in the song that also calls for adults to respect the rights of children and treat every child as their own. The Gender and Family Promotion Minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya and the CNLS Executive Secretary, Dr.Anita Asiimwe joined other participants in the joyful event.
Music plays a crucial role in clearly passing a message to children on prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Many children were very impressed by the popular Rwandan musicians and were grateful to CNLS for having invited them in the opening ceremony to deliver different messages. This shows how the power of music impacts positively in the sensitization campaign against the spread of HIV among children and the youth.
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