GICUMBI – The World AIDS Day in Gicumbi district was on Tuesday marked with a call to embrace safety measures in order to avoid contracting HIV.

Addressing residents at Kageyo SOS children village, the district vice mayor for Social Affairs Eugenie Uwamahoro, reminded parents of their primary role to bring up children as healthy responsible citizens.

"You should discuss freely with your children the dangers of indulging in unprotected sex, because this exposes them to AIDS,” Uwamahoro said.

She noted that AIDS poses a challenge towards Rwanda’s effort to attain the millennium development goals.

The director of Byumba Hospital, Dr. Deocles Mukama called on all residents to take part in voluntary HIV testing, saying it enables those found infected to begin taking antiretroviral drugs.

"HIV/AIDS infected persons should not despair because drugs to reduce the negative effects of the deadly virus are available free of charge,” he said.

He called on those infected to desist from deliberate spread of the virus by using condoms whenever they engage in sexual intercourse.

Jack Ngarukiye, the Gicumbi district coordinator for the National AIDS Control Commission, reminded all stake holders to avail prevention facilities to everyone to guarantee human rights.

"AIDS is a threat to the entire human race, which is why collective responsibility is needed to prevent its spread,” he said.

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