Kirehe district based cooperative namely Tuzamurane in Gatore Sector with 20 HIV/AIDS positive members have helped its members move in more achievement particularly in social welfare.

According to the chairperson of this cooperative Riberata Nibakure, ever since they joined this cooperative, they have made many achievements including coming together and fighting loneliness as most of them had been shattered from the world after learning of their AIDS statuses.

This cooperative also has members who are not HIV/AIDS carriers but who are poor and they work together to achieve development doing different projects.

The Gatore sector worker in charge of social affairs said that it easy for them to support these HIV/AIDS carriers who are in one cooperative and said that they support them in different projects like giving them cows in Girinka program so as to continue promoting themselves.

Innocent Harerimana a cooperative member said that they have a plan to sensitize other residents who would be infected by AIDS to join them in cooperatives as it gives them a plat form to socialize together and a chance to talk about their problems to people who understand them instead of leading a lonely life.

People living with HIV/AIDS in Bugesera district complain to have limitations in the cooperatives particularly lack funds to help them in their daily lives. 

Women in cooperatives

Stephanie Nyiramasengesho a member of ‘Twisungane’ cooperative in Nyarugenge sector in Bugesera district says that the infected people in this cooperative meet with a big problem to carry garbage.

She said that in this kind of work they do make it difficult for them to live with this disease. “Most of us are very weak to do work that needs labour like what we do which is to carry garbage on our heads and this makes it very difficult for us considering we are AIDS carriers.”

Valens Nyaminani a member of this cooperative said that people who support these cooperative should make reviews about cooperatives that do work requiring much labour and see what they can do for their members because it is too much for them.

He said that the work of cooperatives should be put into consideration regarding those who will do it so as not to get over worked as they don’t have good health and needs to be taken care of well.

Jean de Dieu Gasamagera the coordinator of AEE that supports and analyses projects that are productive to cooperatives of HIV/AIDS patients said that some of these cooperatives don’t have financial support.

 Lack of care from family members and loss of parents seem to be among few causes of prostitution to young girls, according to recent findings.

Taking a sample from Muhanga district that usually has young girls below 18 years as prostitutes, the research reveal that the area has several orphans.

One of girls who is 18years and has a 5months old baby born out of prostitution says that if she had another job, she could stop prostitution since it has too much problems.

Muhanga district is in preparations to make a centre to help such young children get out of prostitution and ‘Ihorere Munyarwanda’ association that fights AIDS says they have already started discussions with these young girls so as to get out of social immoralities.

Asking for anonymity, another said how her life had been full of trouble after losing her parents, she accidentally became pregnant when she was still young and her brother sent her out of her home.

Joseph Harerimana the coordinator of ‘Ihorere Munyarwanda’ association which is determined to fight AIDS and idlers in Muhanga and Ruhango districts said that they made a research about this issue and they are looking for a way to apply their counter measures.

According to Fortunée Mukagatana the vice mayor for social affairs in Muhanga district, they are looking for measures to help these young girls get out of the situation.

Though this problem has been tackled for a very long time, the Government still puts a lot of meaning into the fight so that the situation is seen through.

Hope for Living organisation funded by Global fund has given pigs and goats to the cooperatives of the vulnerable people living with HIV/AIDS from four sectors in Gakenke district.

Hope for living coordinator and Gakenke district workers

During the meeting to reveal the achievements and future prospects held on February 27th 2012, Hope for Living disclosed that 150 goats and 40 pigs were given to cooperatives of people living with HIV /AIDS by the end of last year.

Hope for the living plans to continue giving live stock to the cooperatives in the second phase beginning with March 2012.

The cooperatives that received cows have opted for consolidated live stock keeping in order promoting the culture of working under cooperatives.

However, consolidated farming posed a problem to the goats which has made some beneficiaries relax as far as caring for goats is concerned. As a result some goats do not look healthy.

Hope for living trained 10 health workers that sensitised 1500 people on the advantages of circumcising and family planning as per the contract they had with Hope for Living.

Hope for living works in four sectors; Mataba, Mugunga, Minazi and Muyongwe of Gakenke district from 2011.

Health officials in Rulindo district have vowed to fight the continuing pregnancy problem in high schools which disrupts studies of teenage girls and their general livelihood.

Gato F, in charge of AIDS control.

The disclosure was made this Tuesday 21/02/2012 by Gato Fredrick in charge of Aids control while addressing a one day meeting on social wellbeing of Rulindo residents.

He revealed that teenage pregnancies are not only a burden to the bearers but also to the family and the country in general, “ when a girl gets pregnant while at school , it discourages her hope and her future life and also causes burden to her family and the country .” said Gato.

Mr.Gato went on to say that through pregnancies most of teenage girls are likely to acquire HIV/Aids which he said to be the most worrying epidemic that hinders the countries development.

Parents and all responsible citizens were urged to be committed in the fight against teenage pregnancies saying that teenagers are the future of Rwanda.

According to the recent research, statistics indicate that at least 14 young girls got pregnant both in high and the 12 years basic education last year.

Jean D’ Amour  , a district official in charge of health said that most cases related to pregnancies and sexual affairs were found to be common in day scholars hence urging parents and authorities to be alert making sure that students reach at school on time as well as a safe and timely back home.

Over 107 women and girls in Nyanza district will be helped to start up small income generating projects to help them quit prostitution.

Photo: Ex-prostitutes

These women acknowledge to have spent over 23 years doing prostitution and have not gained anything other than being robbed by clients, beaten and worst getting infected with HIV viruses.

Karame Claude the coordinator of the committee in charge of fighting AIDS in Nyanza district met these women and girls and reminded them the risks of being infected with AIDS.

Photo: Ex-prostitutes

The meeting was held following complaints by former prostitutes requesting  authorities to help them get out poverty and quit prostitution.

One of them said, “Am tired of sleeping with men. What have I gained from ten years in prostitution? Nothing other than getting infected with AIDS.”

Karame Claude in charge of fighting AIDS in the district pledged to seek for support and help ex-prostitutes start up projects. But they will have to be trained on cooperatives forst.