Kigali — MTN-Rwanda has donated an assortment of goods worth Rwf 3.7m to children and widows infected with the HIV/AIDS in Kibagabaga hospital in Kigali and Nyamata, in Bugesera District.

Mary Asiimwe, the MTN Senior Human Resource Manager distributed clothes, food, sugar and soap to children in Kibagabaga hospital.

Andrew Rugege, the Chief Operations Officer handed over kits that included mattresses and bitenge, a local traditional dress for women, to over 100 widows living with HIV/AIDS in Bugesera.

A total of 55 children out of 870 living with HIV/AIDS are under the care of Kibagabaga hospital which supplies them with antiretroviral drugs.

Antoinette Murebwayire, the hospital nurse in charge of anti-retroviral treatment (ART), at the hospital thanked MTN for the donation.

However she said that most of the infected children are from vulnerable families which make it hard for them to take drugs due to hunger.

"These drugs are supposed to be taken after eating and some children have refrained from them because they don't have what to eat at home," Murebwayire said.

The donation under MTN's programme of a 'Week of AIDS Awareness' comes a few days before the international AIDS day celebrated every December 1.