STOP SIDA: On-going RBC campaign against HIV/AIDS through positive eyes response

Amon Tuyesenge fondly remembers the carefree days of his childhood. “Playing outside, dancing, sharing toys with friends – those were the days,” he says with a nostalgic smile. But one hospital visit changed everything, revealing a harsh reality that would change his life forever.

At age nine, Amon learned he had been carrying HIV since birth, transmitted to him but not to his two elder sisters by her mother before her untimely death. In the early 1990s, there were no Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMCTC) services, and HIV/AIDS awareness was practically non-existent.

Due to the stigma surrounding the virus at the time, Amon’s close family members abandoned him except for his sisters.

Tragically, his father had also passed away in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, leaving him and his other two sisters fend for themselves. As a result, he went from being a normal kid to being “that orphan with HIV.”

However, the 38-year-old motorist from Rwamagana looks back with gratitude on the evolution of the government’s response to his condition and others.

“I thank the government and all stakeholders for their continuous support.” He said

Consequently, Rwanda has successfully stemmed the tide of the HIV epidemic, reducing the burden from 17% in 1983 to the current 3%.

Amon recalls the stigma surrounding HIV when he was growing up. However, since 2005, the Ministry of Health through RBC has worked to combat this by updating HIV guidelines.

The reforms include age-specific counseling and training for healthcare providers and vigorous media campaigns like “STOP SIDA” (stop AIDS) that is currently on- going within the Eastern province and will cover the whole country to increase understanding of the disease in the communities.

These efforts, along with the scaling up of testing, PMTCT, and antiretroviral treatment (ART) services to health facilities covering more than 95% of the country, including rural communities, will significantly contribute to reducing the HIV burden in prone areas of Eastern province and Kigali City.

Over the last 29 years, the government has been able to bring down HIV infections by 94% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) being aware of their positive status, and with 97.5% of PLHIV who know their status are on antiretroviral treatment (ART), and 90.1% of PLHIV on ART are virally suppressed.

Additionally, treatments available today are a far cry from when Amon was first diagnosed.

“The only option available to me at that time was Bactrim, an antibiotic for infection prevention. Immunity was measured through CD4 count; my count was high, but I was still considered ‘healthy’ despite having troubling symptoms that are now not as issue as I look healthy like anyone else.” added Amon

Regular revisions of policy mean the treatment itself has improved with time. For example, Amon explains that;

“I used to take many pills with side effects such as headaches and skin rashes, making it easy for people to spot and stigmatize me, leading to poor adherence. However, with adjustments made by the government, I can now swallow just one pill daily with minimal side effects without anyone else being the wiser.

I have navigated the treacherous waters of dating but nevertheless am happy about AHF-trained HIV peer mentors under “Girls Act Program” who are also reminding me how to protect myself and others. And when it comes to declaring my HIV status in relationships, honesty is the best policy, even if it means facing heartbreak.” Concluded Amon

Mukamaria Jannet, a pharmacist from Rwamagana, echoes Amons’s bold and honest approach to love, as she believes young people must be at the forefront of the fight against HIV.

Jannet added that: “Data in Rwanda reveals that 33% of new HIV infections occur among girls aged 15-24 years, with HIV transmission twice as high for adolescent girls and young women than it is for boys and young men.”

Amon has triumphed over HIV discrimination, becoming a successful motorist married with two children.

Through the support of the government’s programs, Amon’s story showcases the power of collaboration in improving the lives of those living with HIV and the importance of access to tailored regimens, counseling, and friendly service delivery for those affected by the virus that are accessible in all health centers countrywide.