Miss Universe, USA here

KIGALI - Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez and Miss United States, Rima Fakih, who are in the country, yesterday visited a clinic run by TRAC-Plus, a research centre on HIV. The two beauty queens met and interacted with a cross section of teenagers infected with HIV. In a Question and Answer session with the teens, the visitors expressed their appreciation on how the clinic executes its duties, specifically in dealing with minors. The Spanish speaking Fernandez explained that her organization was working with organizations from all over the world to increase awareness so that the number of people contracting the virus decreases significantly. “I believe the answer lies in educating the people,” she said through a translator. Asked why they chose Rwanda, Fakih said that she had always wanted to come to Rwanda even before she won the contest. “I have decided that when I go back, I am going to be the face of TRAC –Plus clinic,” Miss Universe informed the excited teenagers. On her part, Miss US promised to create a link between the Rwandan HIV positive children and those in the US. Both beauty queens are in the country at the invitation of the government and are being hosted by the First Lady, Jeanette Kagame. Yesterday, they visited Imbuto Foundation which operates under the Office of the First Lady, before being hosted to lunch by the First Lady. While in the country, they plan to meet women Members of Parliament, visit Genocide memorial sites and trek gorillas in the Northern Province. Ends

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Miss Universe, USA here