Rwandan Youth Take on the Topics of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV Prevention

Rwandan Youth Take on the Topics of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV Prevention

The Kinazi Unity Club is a group of 35 youths between the ages 15 and 24, who meet every Saturday to discuss a wide array of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) topics such as family planning, HIV prevention, reproductive health, sexual development, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence prevention and management.

With support from Global Communities and local partner Duhamic Adri under the USAID Twiyubake program, the Kinazi Unity Club conducted a community sensitization campaign on SRHR and HIV prevention. The day of events featured talks on adolescent SRHR and the dangers of drug abuse as well as skits, drama and music.
Albertine Mukasiba, a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Health Worker at Rusatira health center, is discussing sexuality with the youth.

Albertine Mukasiba, a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Health Worker from the local health center, discussed the stages of sexual development and steps to prevent HIV infection. She emphasized the importance of HIV testing as the only way to know one’s HIV status and encouraged the youth to take advantage of free, voluntary HIV testing being conducted at the tent next to the event.

The Unity Club members performed a drama entitled “Beware of those who mislead you,” which portrays a young girl who became pregnant and got infected with HIV following an affair with a wealthy business man.
More than 700 people from Kinazi participated in the campaign, of which 218 were tested for HIV. Beate Mitari, head of the Rusatira Health Center, who conducted the HIV tests, explained that the results would be provided the next day in individual post-test counselling sessions. “In case a youth under age 18 has a HIV positive result, we will inform the parents in an appropriate counselling session,” she explained.
Albertine Mukasiba, a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Health Worker at Rusatira health center, is discussing sexuality with the youth.

The campaign was conducted in four areas of Rwanda. The SRHR messages reached more than 2,000 people,     and 652 individuals took advantage of free, voluntary HIV testing. Local authorities were so supportive of the           campaigns that they have suggested that similar campaigns be conducted in all of the regions for broader   outreach.

The goal of the USAID Twiyubake program is to assist vulnerable households in Rwanda by reducing economic vulnerability. Global Communities is implementing this goal by   empowering parents to make investments that meet the needs of their families, particularly young children and adolescents. Using a family centered approach to that focuses on increasing the capability of each household to improve health and economic conditions, the program centers on themes such as health promotion, creation of clinical-community linkages, and economic strengthening that can be sustained over time.

Albertine Mukasiba, a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Health Worker at Rusatira health center, is discussing sexuality with the youth.