Rwanda ART Sites

KIGALI, Rwanda—Ruli District Hospital on December 15, 2003, launched the first rural antiretroviral therapy (ART) program in Rwanda, the fourth ART program in the country supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Located 42 kilometers from the capital city of Kigali, this rural health center will receive technical and financial assistance from USAID and Family Health International's IMPACT project to provide life-saving drugs to at least 50 HIV-positive patients in 2004.

Ruli Hospital marked the launch of the program with a commencement ceremony in conjunction with World AIDS Day activities, which continued over a two-week period in Rwanda. The first three ART patients were given medication while another 11 patients are preparing to begin ART later in the month by participating in the counseling and education program.

Guests at the ceremony included ART patients, members of the local PLHA association, the director of the hospital, Dr. Jean de Dieu Ngirabega, hospital personnel, students from the local nursing school, community members and representatives of FHI/IMPACT. Special guests included Caroline Connolly of USAID/Rwanda, Dr. Jean-Claude Karasi of the Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC/MOH), Dr. Louis Rusa, director of health in Kigali Ngali Province and mayor of Rushashi District (where the hospital is located).

"If you can demonstrate that this program can work in Ruli," said Ms. Connolly in presenting a symbolic "gift" of antiretroviral medications to the first Ruli ART patients, "and especially in Ruli—a place far from sophisticated laboratories and reference hospitals—you have the possibility of influencing the decisions of my government, USAID and other donors to expand ART service to other areas of the country where there is also great need." Dr. Karasi underscored the veracity of her remarks, stressing the importance of supporting prevention programs for people who are HIV-negative.

With the addition of Ruli District Hospital, FHI/IMPACT is supporting four ART sites in Rwanda. Each site is funded by USAID, including funds provided under the President's International Mother and Child HIV Prevention Initiative. As of December 15, the four sites were providing ART and medical care to 223 patients.

Top photo: Caroline Connelly, left, USAID/Rwanda, with Martin Ngabonziza, center, FHI/IMPACT Senior Technical Advisor, presents a symbolic "gift" of antiretroviral medication to a hospital patient. (FHI)

Middle photo: Members of the local PLWHA association present a gift to Sister Rose, who, in 2000, started the VCT service that later won USAID support to provide ART services. (FHI)

Bottom photo: Members of a local drama troupe perform a skit about ART. (FHI)