Rwanda: Second Annual National Conference on Pediatric Aids Opens

20 November 2006
allAfrica.com
guest column By Sidi El Moctar Cheiguer

Kigali — National attention is focused on Kigali as the Second National Paediatric Conference on Treatment, Care and Support to Children Infected and Affected by HIV and Aids opens Monday. The two-day event, organized jointly by the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS), Unicef, UNAIDS and the Clinton Foundation will feature world experts.

With strong backing from Rwanda’s Head of State, Paul Kagame, the 2006 Conference, takes place at a critical moment for this country of 9 million people –Rwanda is currently ranked 10th among the most HIV affected countries in the world.

According to the National Commission on Aids, Rwanda’s prevalence rate is three percent among the 15 to 29 year-olds, with a higher rate among women (3.6) than men (2.3). One and a half more women are infected with HIV/Aids than men. In a country with over 1.25 million orphans, 210,000 are orphans due to Aids. 27,000 are HIV infected and 6,951 need access to antiretrovirals (ARVs). Approximately 6,500 more children require access to Cotrimoxazole to prevent opportunistic infections. However, the country saw improvement in 2006 : 4,370 children out of 6,500, (67 percent) have access to Cotrimoxazole – none had access in 2005.  Of the 6,951 children requiring ARVs, 2,311 33.2 percent have access, from less than 1 percent in 2004.   These figures were very encouraging for Rwandans.

Indeed, progress has been made between the two conferences. In 2006, one third of HIV positive pregnant women received treatment preventing transmission of the virus during delivery, versus only 20 percent in 2004. Similarly, care provided in Health Centres improved significantly. At least 55 percent of Health facilities are concerned by the improvement compared to 30 percent in 2004. Integrating children in the heart of the fight against HIV and Aids adds significance and relevance to this years’ confernce, as children count for more than half of Rwanda’s total population.

Public Authorities’ responses have played a key role in shaping responses to HIV/Aids in Rwanda. Ms Bintou Keita, representative of Unicef Rwanda, noted that “even if the international community mobilised itself for the country, we have to acknowledge the fact that the Government has committed to the fight against the pandemic and particularly the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS), whose leadership into this second Conference is invaluable".

“No rest is allowed while more remains to be done," Ms Bintou Keita implored supporters.

The conference opens on Monday morning. 400 participants are expected to be in attendance.

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