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Rwanda
Rwanda, with significant contributions from the Joint Team continued to scale up HIV prevention, treatment and care services and education among vulnerable and key populations. For instance, 945 female sex workers and 37 men who have sex with men received 1550 HIV self-tests while 56 survivors of rape (5 males) accessed post-exposure prophylaxis to minimize their risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A total of 527 men had voluntary medical male circumcision through campaigns supported by the Joint Team. In addition, 2055 people accessed hepatitis B and C screening services through a Joint Team supported viral hepatitis screening campaign and the 21 people diagnosed with hepatitis B and four with hepatitis C were linked to treatment and care services (UNHCR).
Newly established community-based peer support systems scaled up HIV prevention, education, testing and referrals to treatment services among adolescents and young people in two districts. A HIV risk assessment tool piloted in two districts proved to be a useful entry point for screening of individual risks while peer-supported HIV self-testing services showed high levels of acceptance for those who are reluctant to visit health facilities (UNICEF).
Human capacity for delivery of comprehensive sexuality education improved in six districts with the training of 1200 teachers and 81 new master trainers and distribution of education materials (UNFPA). In addition, 100 (60 females) adolescent and youth activists received inclusive education on scaling up access to HIV services and 939 children and adolescents with disabilities were sensitized and accessed HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. All 30 districts in Rwanda implemented a disability and inclusion programme supported by 185 healthcare providers, including nurses, midwives and community health supervisors who were trained on early detection and screening of disability using screening tools and referral to services (UNICEF).
Over 12 000 adolescents and young adults improved their awareness on HIV, SRH, gender-based violence, women’s rights, HIV-related stigma and access to non-discriminatory health services through short message services and other outreach initiatives. A total of 57 key messages on these topics were also disseminated via social media platforms of the Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV (RRP+) with over 31 000 views on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube (UN Women).
Two Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) studies were completed among men who have sex with men and female sex workers, generating strategic evidence to guide programming and resource mobilization for the national HIV response. As per the findings, participants from 19 healthcare facilities received capacity building on the delivery of key population-friendly services (UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat).
HIV guideline revised considering most updated HIV care and treatment strategies based on recent WHO recommendations and considering country context (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).
A National MenEngage and Gender Transformative Strategy to promote gender equality and positive masculinities was developed (UN Women), while collaboration with Rwanda Biomedical centre and civil society led to the launch of a male engagement campaign for access and use of health services (UNAIDS Secretariat).
A “Positive Life Skills” campaign was conducted in 16 upper primary and secondary schools in six districts, reaching 15 505 adolescents in total (WFP).
A coalition of civil society organizations was supported to mobilise EUR 1 million from Expertise France to support policy review and advocacy aimed at improving legal environment for access to health services among people who inject drugs (UNAIDS Secretariat).
The government and development partners scaled up access to HIV testing, treatment as well as viral load testing and monitoring services in refugee camps (UNHCR). A rapid assessment generated information on the situation and health needs of the growing number of refugees from the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (UNHCR, UNFPA). In 2022, at total of 129 238 refugees from Congo and Burundi and host communities received information and accessed combination prevention, testing and treatment, tuberculosis screening and treatment, viral load testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services (UNHCR, WFP). Additionally, 56 young first time mothers in refugee camps received training on prevention of HIV, STIs, unintended pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence as well as SRH and family planning services to reduce the high number of teenage pregnancies in refugee camps (UNHCR, UNFPA).