RWANDA: Private sector launches HIV/AIDS project

A year-long HIV/AIDS programme geared towards the business community has been launched by the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (FRSP), the Rwanda News Agency reported on Thursday.

The US $50,000 project which kicked off on Wednesday, is funded by IMPACT-Rwanda and comes in response to the increasing need to ensure full participation of private companies in the country's HIV/AIDS struggle, FRSP executive secretary, Dr. Victor Shingiro said.

"HIV/AIDS has become a big problem in almost all companies. Many have managed to carry out credible moves of sharing the costs with their infected employees in terms of drugs, while a good number remain looking on helplessly as the scourge continues to erode their manpower," Shingiro said.

Shingiro said the project will focus on carrying out a survey of the pandemic in local enterprises and exploring measures that would enable companies to source HIV/AIDS drugs at a relatively low cost for HIV-positive employees.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Other,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]