Ministry of Health is conducting survey on HIV prevalence

Sabin Nsanzimana, the Head of HIV and STI at RBC

The Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), and the Ministry of Health (MoH), are currently carrying out the first national survey on, behavioral, clinical, and biologic indicator for HIV/Aids.

The survey that kicked off in mid June has been so far conducted in the Western and Northern provinces and will soon be extended to other provinces.

According to Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Head of HIV, STI and other ‘blood borne infections division at RBC, the survey seeks to act as a baseline for HIV-1 incidence data from a group study that will generate the real figure of the HIV/Aids epidemic dynamics in the country.

“The survey will be conducted to provide population based estimates of HIV prevalence and HIV occurrence as well as behavioral risk factors, like syphilis, gonorrhea and others sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs),” said the official.

He added that the survey will help in the HIV National Strategic Plan which will guide decision makers and programmers in the elaboration and improvement of policies to address HIV,” Nsanzimana said.

The Ministry says that the results from the study will provide useful data for program planning and evaluation of these infections, HIV indicators which are not currently available at national level.

The data from the survey will help in effective monitoring and evaluation of national HIV/Aids programmes.