While participating in a community sports held in Kigali City on July 13, 2025, the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, expressed concern over the continued impact of HIV on Rwandans, particularly the youth. He emphasized that, contrary to what some may think, HIV has not been eradicated.
In his message, Minister Dr. Nsanzimana explained that although significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the virus still exists and is increasingly affecting young people, many of whom were not around during the height of the epidemic. He therefore urged the youth not to be complacent but to remain vigilant and take preventive measures to maintain healthy lives.
“Some people believe that HIV has been eliminated, but that’s not the case. It still exists, and we are seeing a rising number of infections among the youth. Young people today never witnessed how serious it was in the past.” He stated.
He reminded young people that maintaining good health is their personal responsibility and encouraged them to avoid unprotected sexual activity.
“It’s important to avoid engaging in sexual activity when it’s inappropriate, but if abstaining becomes difficult, condoms are available, use them to protect yourselves and avoid becoming a burden to the country due to HIV.” He emphasized.
According to new data from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), collected between July 2023 and June 2024, HIV infection rates among young people remain high: Among those aged 15–19, 6.5% of females and 1.6% of males are infected.In the 20–24 age group, 5.2% of females and 4.5% of males are infected.For those aged 25–29, 3.5% of females and 3.0% of males are living with HIV.
These figures indicate that although the infection rates slightly decrease with age, young people remain highly vulnerable, especially adolescent girls and young women.
In addition, data from the 2023 national census conducted by the National Institute of Statisticsof Rwanda (NISR) revealed that approximately 9,000 youth aged 15–24 are currently living with HIV. This accounts for a prevalence rate of 35% within that age group, a number that health officials view as alarmingly high and in need of immediate attention.
The Ministry of Health continues to advocate for increased awareness, prevention, and early testing among youth. Dr. Nsanzimana’s remarks serve as a strong reminder that although Rwanda has made great strides in combating HIV/AIDS, the fight is far from over. Young people must be empowered with the right information, tools, and support systems to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus.