Congo-Kinshasa: Ex-Combatants Confront the Reality of HIV

Kabare — Craning their necks through the window of a medical centre in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a dozen ex-combatants from the recent civil war watch images of sexually transmitted infections flashing on a television screen.

These men and women have just laid down their weapons in one of Africa's nastiest wars and are now coming to terms with the unseen danger of HIV. It is widely assumed that more than a decade of fighting between foreign-backed rebels, Congolese militia and the national army has spread the virus in eastern DRC, while crippling health services.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.