One of the youth giving testimony in Nyagatare District
Nyagatare: Approximately 219,000 people are living with HIV in Rwanda, a significant portion being young individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. This age group also has a high percentage of new HIV infections. According to available statistics, about 5,900 young adolescents in Rwanda are living with HIV, with many of them falling within the school-age bracket of 15-24 years old.
Despite these alarming figures, many young people living with HIV remain furiously hopeful about their future. They face stigmatization at school and home but are determined to change the societal narrative that equates contracting HIV with automatic death. These young individuals aspire to inspire others and demonstrate that a fulfilling life is possible despite their diagnosis.
The Rwandan government, through the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), has invested significantly in awareness campaigns, particularly in districts with high numbers of HIV infections. These efforts aim to educate the public, reduce stigmatization, and provide support to those affected. By raising awareness and promoting understanding, the RBC hopes to foster a more inclusive and supportive society for people living with HIV.
Kevin Kamo (not real name) is one of the young men who at the time of contracting HIV was a secondary school student.
The story of his journey to accept that he is HIV positive is a daunting one. After one month engaging in unprotected sex his eyes started to itch in great pain alongside high temperatures. He was rushed to the hospital by his parents unfortunately the results were not worthy to celebrate. His parents started to whisper words of discontent after the doctors unpackaged the medical results of their child.
The parents did not disclose the truth to their child immediately until they reached home but he had heard them exchanging words in French to hide the information from him. He had, though, suspected the results according to his parent’s attitudes at the moment. They later disclosed the information and gave him parental advisory to take medicine as required.
He started to take medicine, the infection has reduced to zero virus in just six months. Kamo slowly regained life. He started to feel positive changes in his body when he went back to school without any complications.
Now his body is healthier but it has nothing to do with the stigma stemming from the grassroots in society both at school and home.
“I didn’t bother about the reaction of people. I continued studying and completed my studies. Throughout that stigmatization in schools I remained unchallenged and hopeful. I was not guilty,” he confesses.
But of course, he had had troubles coping up with the harsh reality that he has contracted HIV and that his mental health was impacted negatively. “I had set a special hour to cry every day. I meandered in five schools all chasing me on grounds I was HIV positive.”
He adds optimistically; “I’m a new person and I have accepted the harsh reality of living with HIV. I have continued my life as other normal persons. I’m both a teacher and a student pursuing education courses at the university.”
Kamo strongly advises the youth to abstain where necessary due to the fact that HIV related symptoms and signs cannot be traced on the external physical appearances of a person.
“Being fat or having a nice looking body does not mean that some are HIV free,” he warns, advising that “the youth should love their life and abstain where necessary.”
He believes the HIV prevention and preventive mechanisms would be tightened especially in order to reduce the current figures of HIV infection among the youth.
“We no longer have anti-AIDS clubs in school but they are needed indeed,” he adds.
His female counterpart Diane Ishimwe who also tested HIV positive echoes Kamo’s confidence in life after knowing that she has contracted HIV. She has joined RRP+, an HIV local Prevention intervention non-governmental organization founded to stop the occurrence of new HIV infections through primary and secondary prevention measures.
She now rallies in big events advocating and campaigning for the promotion of awareness campaigns against HIV. She believes that what happened to her can happen to anyone including her close relatives. Her sisters, brothers therefore advising them to be precautious as far as possible.
Her life has continued after discovering that she is HIV negative and venturing up a retail shop for clothes in which she is able to earn a living.
Ishimwe sends a message of hope to those who believe that HIV positive people cannot marry with a normal person or cannot do other businesses’.
“A person living with HIV can marry and have unprotected sex with a normal person without infecting them. What is required is to take precautions like medicine,” she advises.
“The society should know that HIV positive persons are normal people like others. They can marry and have children. They can do everything.”
Her experience of living with HIV taught her something important.
She reminds the girls that they are the riskiest gender. “Girls and women are the ones who are risky but it is easy to avoid the risks that would lead you to problems.”
“Remember that life is the best investment of all,” she further advises. (End)