Rwanda’s free condom kiosks that operate night and day to fight spread of HIV/Aids
Rwanda has started giving free condoms in HIV hotspots in its capital, Kigali
24/7 Condom Distribution Kiosks have been strategically placed in four high risk areas in Kigali city, as part of a broader effort to control the spread of HIV by practising safe sex practices.
The kiosks are meant to ensure condoms accessibility 24 hours daily to members of the community, from where individuals can pick free condoms and educational materials on safer sex practices, particularly meant for the youth and sex workers said Dr Sabin Nsazimana, the head of HIV/AIDS division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre reports New Times Rwanda
“We are taking condoms and useful information about HIV closer to sex workers, in areas where they are most concentrated,” said Dr. Nsazimana
Free condoms are meant to help to reach the zero new infections target and end unwanted pregnancies. According to Dr Leonard Bantura, the AHF acting country programme manager, the effectiveness of the kiosks will be monitored with help from the police.
At least 45 per cent of sex workers countrywide are infected with HIV/Aids while 51 per cent of those in Kigali are also infected with the disease according to the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2015. The survey further states that HIV prevalence is common among people aged 15-49 and is concentrated in some high risk groups such as female sex workers.
Rwanda aims to distribute at least one million condoms by the end of the year
