CANKUZO December 11th (ABP) – Twenty people out of more than 1,500 living with HIV/AIDS in Cankuzo province have died in the last 12 months as a result of opportunistic illnesses.
That was revealed during the celebration of World AIDS Day, which took place at the Buhumuza stadium, according to local sources.
During the day, celebrated under the theme “Let’s strengthen human rights by eradicating HIV/AIDS”, Emmanuel Nikoyagize, representing the non-governmental organization ICAP Burundi, presented the challenges blocking HIV/AIDS eradication activities. Those include the failure to test for HIV, the failure of HIV-positive people to take their medication, and pregnant women not attending antenatal clinics during the first 3 months of pregnancy. A total of 111 people has tested positive for HIV/AIDS in the past 12 months. Out of some 1,500 people living with the virus, 37 young people under the age of 15 died from opportunistic diseases during the same period.
Provincial governor Boniface Banyiyezako reiterated the administration’s commitment to supporting activities to combat the virus. He took the opportunity to call on the NGO ICAP to redouble its efforts to raise awareness of the virus at community and school level.
CAPES+, an association of people living with HIV/AIDS, called for free care for opportunistic diseases. ABP/Denis NTIHINDAGIZWA