Key points:
- In a significant shift, United Methodists in Rwanda joined in full public partnership with Rwandan authorities at an event to prevent the spread of HIV.
- The East African country is working to continue meeting its targets to reduce the prevalence of HIV.
- Cooperation among government, civil society and faith communities is critical to achieving “an HIV-free generation,” said one official.
In sharp contrast to the United States — where the federal government downplayed World AIDS Day last year — Rwandan political leaders encouraged churches to spotlight the occasion.
For the first time, The United Methodist Church in Rwanda organized the commemoration in full partnership with local government authorities, bringing together faith leaders, health professionals and community members to raise awareness. In previous years, United Methodists in Rwanda held small, church-based trainings focused mainly on HIV prevention for pastors, spouses and youth leaders.
This past year marked a major shift. The Dec. 1 event moved into an open public space —expanding its reach to passers-by, market vendors and young people who might never attend church activities.
The Inclusive Mission for Health and Hope, a United Methodist ministry, organized the large roadside observance for communities in the Mukamira Sector of Rwanda’s Nyabihu District. The event drew more than 150 registered participants, while hundreds more paused near the bus station to listen to speeches, music and HIV-prevention messages. Mukamira was chosen for its high foot traffic and strategic location, offering an ideal platform to reach diverse audiences with updated HIV information.
Nyabihu District Vice Mayor Pascal Simpenzwe praised the renewed engagement of civil society after “several years of limited participation” in World AIDS Day observances. He highlighted Rwanda’s strong record, noting that “Rwanda’s HIV response remains one of the most successful on the continent.”
The country has met the global 95-95-95 targets — about 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 96%–98% of those are on treatment, and 95%–98% achieve viral suppression.
National HIV prevalence remains relatively low at 2.7%. Rwanda records roughly 3,200 new infections and 2,600 AIDS-related deaths annually, and an estimated 230,000 Rwandans are living with HIV. For comparison, about 0.3% of the U.S. population was living with HIV as of 2022.
“These achievements show what is possible when government, civil society and faith communities work together,” Simpenzwe said. “But these programs still need strong partners if we are to achieve an HIV-free generation. We must continue encouraging testing, supporting families affected by HIV and preventing new infections.”
The Rev. Augustin Bahati, Inclusive Mission’s executive director and the event organizer, said the collaboration on the gathering marked a significant milestone for The United Methodist Church in Rwanda. Bahati is also the director of mission and community engagement with The United Methodist Church’s Rwanda Provisional Conference.
The event, he said “reflected stronger community engagement, renewed commitment to reducing stigma and a clear message promoting HIV prevention.”
Dorothee, a 55-year-old United Methodist woman, offered a powerful public testimony. Her husband died of AIDS in 2022. When she was diagnosed with HIV in 2005, she also learned that her baby daughter was infected.
Initially overwhelmed with fear, she said she found hope through professional counseling and now feels healthy thanks to consistent antiretroviral treatment. Her daughter is now married to a man she met through a support group for children with HIV where they also received antiretroviral treatment. The couple now has a 3-year-old son who has tested negative for HIV.
Dorothee’s willingness to speak openly at a public gathering reflects signs of reduced stigma, though many participants acknowledged that fear and misinformation persist.
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While infections have decreased over the past decade, challenges continue for youth and key populations, including LGBTQ+ persons, commercial sex workers, injecting-drug users and refugees in cross-border communities. Rwanda’s public-health strategy emphasizes prevention, self-testing, male circumcision and eliminating mother-to-child transmission.
A highlight of the outdoor event was a performance by teenage Anti-HIV School Clubs. Using a peer-education approach, the youth sang an original song created through a United Methodist-supported awareness project. The lyrics encouraged students to reject stigma, seek testing and adopt healthy behaviors. Recognizing that many newly diagnosed youth experience despair or suicidal thoughts, they affirmed that “living with HIV does not define your future; love, care, and treatment give hope.”
“Churches/civil society organizations and government partnerships in Rwanda are vital,” said Madam Musabyemariya Donatille, the chair of the Wiceceka organization (“wiceceka” means “do not keep silent” in English).
“Faith communities shape belief, behavior and community norms,” she said. “Government institutions provide condoms, life-saving medicines and medical care. When both work together, they bridge the gap between knowledge and acceptance.”
Because many people still fear testing or disclosing their status, church involvement helps break silence and stigma through the Christian message of loving God, neighbor and self.
Event organizers expressed appreciation to the Inclusive Mission, Wiceceka organization, the United Methodist-related Center for Health and Hope and the Global AIDS Committee of The United Methodist Church for their support. Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV, called RRP+ for short, was recognized for donating the hundreds of condoms distributed during the event, and local political leaders were commended for their presence and encouragement.
The gathering concluded with participants linking hands and pledging to sustain Rwanda’s progress. Church and government officials reaffirmed their commitment to reducing new infections, supporting families affected by HIV and ensuring that no one, especially young people, would be left behind in the journey toward an AIDS-free generation.
Habimana is a Rwandan journalist who was supported by the Center for Health and Hope through the Inclusive Mission for Health and Hope, after being lifted out of a difficult and discouraging period in his life. He graduated in 2024 from Institut Catholique de Kabgayi and now volunteers with the Inclusive Mission as a public relations officer.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
