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To enhance the identification, linkage to treatment, retention in care, and viral load suppression among children, midwives, and staff responsible for HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) at Catholic-based health facilities in Karongi District, a two-day training on Pediatric HIV was held from May 30th to May 31, 2024. Karongi District was chosen for its high HIV testing positivity rate, ranging between 2.84% and 3.66% (source: HIMS July 2022-June 2023[1]).

This training was part of the Faith Initiative Project funded by Caritas Internationalis through the PEPFAR fund. It took place at Home Saint Jean Hotel and focused on three key pillars:

1. Raising awareness to combat stigma and discrimination;
2. Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV transmission;
3. Enhancing screening, care, and linkage to treatment.

Following the training, healthcare workers were advised to promote early diagnosis, ensure linkage to care, provide adherence support, strengthen healthcare systems, foster community engagement, and uphold a political commitment, particularly at health facilities and various community gatherings (Inteko z’abaturage), parents’ meetings (Umugoroba w’ababyeyi), etc. They will also conduct targeted awareness campaigns featuring voluntary HIV testing and household visits, with a special emphasis on encouraging men to support their partners during the eight antenatal care visits.

Previously, the religious leaders from Karongi District underwent training on Pediatric HIV and the CaritasCare Mobile Application from April 23rd to April 25th, 2024. This training aimed to equip them to raise awareness against HIV-related stigma and discrimination, collect and report data using the CaritasCare mobile application, identify undiagnosed children at the community level, and facilitate their screening and treatment at health facilities as part of their daily responsibilities.

Furthermore, on May 23, 2024, Caritas Rwanda’s Health Department Team engaged with local authorities in Karongi District to emphasize their critical role and contribution in increasing the screening of children living with HIV and linking them with healthcare facilities for treatment. This collaborative effort also involves close cooperation with religious leaders and healthcare workers within this framework.

The Faith Initiative Project is currently being implemented in four countries: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.

 

[1] https://www.rbc.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/report23/HIV%20Annual%20report%202022%20-2023.pdf – page 13

As part of the program impact assessment, the USAID Rwanda team, along with Rubavu District educational officials, visited Igire-Gimbuka interventions in Rubavu on May 21 and 22, 2024. The visit included observing children who are supported in pursuing the TVET program at Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle Vocational Training Center, as well as children involved in the CBIM club at G.S. Shwemu II.

Addressing the children who are currently pursuing their vocational training at the Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle Centre, Mupenzi Pacifique, the Director of Education in Rubavu District, said that vocational trainings are very important because you don’t necessarily have to apply for a job, but you can create your own job or business. He encouraged them to resume their studies if they want to increase their chances in the job market.

Previously (on May 20), the USAID Rwanda team conducted a Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) and Data Quality Assessment (DQA) at Igire-Gimbuka’s Rubavu site. Hence, the Igire-Gimbuka scored 100% (green) in the Rubavu sector where the SIMS was conducted.

To strengthen the economic resilience of program participants, the Igire-Gimbuka created and supported community-based saving groups. Duharaniramahoro, one of these saving groups that engages in raising and selling 1-month-old chicks as a collective income-generating activity was visited by the USAID Rwanda team and Rubavu District local leaders on 22nd May. The group members were congratulated by the visitors for creating income-generating activities and encouraged them to form a cooperative.

Visitors had the opportunity to meet with volunteers and the Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) supported by the Igire-Gimbuka Program. They learned about the various ways in which these volunteers support the participants of the program, including home visit practices, adherence, and supporting viral load monitoring and suppression. Additionally, visitors engaged with the leadership of Kigufi Health Center to gain insight into collaboration, referrals, and linkages.

One of the OVCs shared her journey of starting anti-viral medication when she had a high viral load. Initially, she visited the health facility monthly to receive ARV drugs, with transportation costs of Rwf 1000 covered by the Igire-Gimbuka Program. However, she later learned that friends receiving medication every three months were given a higher transportation allowance of Frw 3000. This motivated her to adhere to her medication schedule, leading to a significant decrease in her viral load. As a result, she transitioned to receiving medication every three months, improving her health and overall well-being.

This girl also appreciated the Igire-Gimbuka because apart from helping her to improve her health, the program also helped her to accomplish sewing training and provided her with a sewing machine, which helped her to start a tailoring business.

During this site visit, the guests advised the volunteers to continue serving the program participants with zeal, even after the closing of the Igire-Gimbuka program.

They were also requested to report accurate statistics in their reports because they provide information on program participants’ health status and therefore provide them with the assistance they need.

On 17^th May 2024, CaritasRwanda Management Team and staff gathered to honour the former Caritas Rwanda staff who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The commemoration included a requiem Holy Mass, the laying of wreaths at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the sharing of messages of hope and testimonies.

Seven employees of Caritas Rwanda who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 are Rugangura Alphonse, Niyibizi Léopold, Beneyezu Eugène, Karangwa Claver, Bunangwa Eugène, Seromba Raphaël and Nyirababiri Joséphine. In addition to Caritas Rwanda management team and staff, the memorial ceremony was attended by the families of the victims and representatives of various invited institutions.

After the celebration of a requiem mass (at the Lavigerie Missionary Center) presided over by Father Kayisabe Védaste, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, the participants visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial where they were explained the history of Jenoside perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994 (before, during and after its occurrence). They also paid tribute to those killed during the Genocide against the Tutsis in 1994 and laid wreaths on the graves of those who rest at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

In his speech at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, Father Oscar Kagimbura, said that this commemoration aimed to remind everyone of their responsibility to value human life. “Life is a gift from God, no one has the right to take it away from their neighbor”, he added.

During the speeches and testimonies time, Mwanangu Juvénal, one of the employees of Caritas Rwanda, testified that Caritas Rwanda offered him a job when he had taken refuge in Kigali from Ruhengeri (his natal province at that time), also offering him a new family. He added that the period preceding the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 was not easy, and shared his memories about his Caritas Rwanda colleagues who perished in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

Niyibizi Albert, who delivered the speech on behalf of the families of Caritas Rwanda employees perished in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, thanked Caritas Rwanda for involving them in the commemoration of their late beloved ones, adding that although the families and the Country lost people and property because of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994, today life offers hope.

Hamudu Safari, president of Ibuka in Nyarugenge district, commended Caritas Rwanda for its non-discriminatory love, saying he witnesses it as Caritas Rwanda offered a job to his muslim father. Hamidu also talked about the contribution of Caritas Rwanda to the reconstruction of Rwanda after the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994: “Caritas was the first to rescue the survivors of the genocide. Although I don’t have the actual statistics, Caritas has helped orphans, widows, paid children’s school fees, etc. I am one of those to whom Caritas supported through the work offered to my father in difficult times, which allowed him to pay for our studies, and now we have become men thanks to Caritas.” 

In his message, Father Kayisabe Védaste recalled that it is easier to do good than to do evil. “Which is easy, between to kill or not to kill? We are here to learn. We must learn from our history,” he said. Father Kayisabe thanked Caritas Rwanda for organizing this memorial event, as well as all the participants, in particular the families of Caritas Rwanda employees who perished in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, reminding them that Caritas always carries them in its heart.

On 16^th May 2024, Caritas Rwanda celebrated Labor Day, where the messages encouraged the staff to continue well performing in their daily work, impacting vulnerable people’s lives. It was also an occasion for a short training on Data Protection facilitated by Landmark advocates.

After this training, the Igire-Gimbuka team, funded by PEPFAR/USAID Rwanda, played against the Caritas Rwanda staff in friendly football and volleyball matches. The Igire-Gimbuka team won in football with a score of 2-1, while the Caritas Rwanda staff team won in volleyball with a score of 2 sets to 1.

Addressing over 100 staff members who participated in the Labor Day celebration at Cercle Sportif de Kigali, the General Secretary of Caritas Rwanda Father Oscar Kagimbura urged them to carry out their daily work, making difference to positively change the lives of vulnerable people.

Father Oscar Kagimbura took this opportunity to present the appreciation award to Madame Nduwamungu Thérèse who has been working for Caritas Rwanda for 18 years, and who’s leaving for retirement. Through this award signed by Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, the Chairman of Caritas Rwanda, Caritas Rwanda appreciated the outstanding work accomplished by Mrs. Nduwamungu during her period of service.

Father Kayisabe Vedaste, Secretary General of the Council of Catholic Bishops in Rwanda who participated in this event, thanked the management of Caritas Rwanda who organized this Labor Day celebration, calling on them to continue to successfully complete the tasks assigned to them by the Church.

To raise awareness within community about paediatric HIV services in Karongi District, Caritas Rwanda in collaboration with Caritas Internationalis has conducted a 3-day training for Religious Leaders. The training focused on paediatric HIV and CaritasCare Mobile App from 23^rd to 25^th April 2024, at Home Saint Jean Hotel (Karongi District).

This training was organized by Caritas Rwanda through the Faith Project, funded by Caritas Internationalis and implemented by Caritas Nigeria, Caritas Ivory Coast, and Caritas Democratic Republic of the Congo. Karongi district was selected due to its high prevalence of HIV infection compared to other districts in Rwanda.

Dr Prince Bisco Kanani, the Director of the Health Department in Caritas Rwanda, highlighted several barriesrs to identifying and treating HIV in children. These barriers include higlli, (i) limited access to paediatric HIV testing and counselling services, (ii) persistent stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive children and their families within communities, and (iii) inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited availability of specialized paediatric HIV treatment and care.

In response to the first two barriers, Religious Leaders, serving as influential figures in the community, will be tasked with educating others about HIV stigma and discrimination during their various engagements. They will also utilise CaritasCare Mobile App to collect data and identify undiagnosed children at community level, ensuring they are connected with Health Facilities for testing and treatment data via the CaritasCare Mobile App and undiagnosed children at the community level and liaising them with Health Facilities for testing and treatment.

In his closing speech, Father Elie Hatangimbabazi, Director of Caritas Nyundo-Kibuye, reminded the Religious Leaders that the work assigned to them under the Faith Project aligns with Caritas’ mission. He urged them to approach the task with enthusiasm and complete it diligently

As for Dr Giulia Amerio, Faith Project Manager and the Health advisor for Caritas Internationalis, Faith Project is not only a project like any other, but also a work of God, of taking care of HIV-positive children who need help for the moment. “I will keep you in my prayers”, she added.

On the last day of the training, the Religious Leaders trained on Paediatric HIV and the CaritasCare Mobile App, together with Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Rwanda’s facilitating team visited the Mubuga Health Center’s Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (EMTCT), Antiretroviral (ARV) services and laboratory to better understand how the HIV positive children are cared for.

In the preparations for World Malaria Day 2024 to be celebrated on 25th April 2024, Caritas Rwanda together with the Rwanda Biomedical Center, Rwanda Ministry of Health, Kigali City, USAID Rwanda and Global Fund, organized an awareness campaign against Malaria on Sunday 21st April 2024, at Tapis Ruge Nyamirambo during the last Car Free Day.

Organized under the theme “Zero Malaria starts with me”, this campaign was also an occasion for the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) voluntary screening. The message was delivered through physical exercises, speeches, songs and questions where successful participants received t-shirts with anti-malaria message as awards.

As different speakers highlighted in their speeches, Rwanda has successfully reduced Malaria cases by 90%. However, the complete eradication of Malaria requires the collective effort of everyone.

In his speech, Father Oscar Kagimbura, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda reminded all the participants that there is a common expression within Catholic Church and Caritas Rwanda which is says that “A healthy mind dwells in a healthy body”. He called on everyone to join the fight against Malaria by sleeping in long lasting insecticide-treated nets (known as supernets), eliminating stagnant water sources and removing ponds and bushes around the house where mosquitoes breed, and getting seeking medical attention promptly upon experiencing any symptoms.

From 21^st to 27^th April 2024, Kigali is hosting the 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference, at Radisson Blu Hotel Kigali. Platini Nemeye known as Platini P. was the featured artist of the day.

 

From January 2022 up to December 2023, Caritas Rwanda through its Graduation Project funded by UNHCR has supported over 1600 refugees from Mahama and Kiziba Camp and the host community members by providing them various trainings and the cash grant of Rwf 800,000 (per person) to enable them to start income generating activities. So far 1,493 businesses are operating profitably.

The Graduation project staff conducts post-distribution monitoring on a regular basis to strengthen participant capacity in managing their income-generating activities and ensure that the cash grant provided has been used as planned and presented in their business plans.

During the January-March 2024 post-distribution monitoring, the target participants monitored were 657 from Kiziba (including 235 identified in 2022 and 422 identified in 2023) and 956 identified in Mahama (including 235 identified in 2022 and 721 identified in 2023).

In the Kiziba site, the post-distribution monitoring reached 583 project participants including 186 from Cohort 2022 and 397 from Cohort 2023 who are still running businesses. During the monitoring period, 43 participants (18 from Cohort 2022 and 25 from Cohort 2023) have been resettled in foreign countries; 31 businesses from 2022 have been found failed and stopped working at the monitoring time.

This monitoring reached 944 beneficiaries with their businesses in the Mahama camp and around the camp physically to monitor their income-generating activities and mentor the business owners in collaboration with volunteers. Through monitoring, Project staff can identify areas where project participants may be struggling and guide them to help them improve. This can lead to enhanced performance and increased chances of business success.

In Mahama, 503 trade businesses are well running, 91 livestock businesses are well running, 71 services businesses are well running, 68 vocational activities are well running, 211 agriculture businesses are well running, 7 businesses in the services sector, and one trade sector are weak due to being in the wrong market, bad location, poor management.

In Kiziba, 549 businesses are well-running, 24 are weak, one business stopped, and 9 project participants have been resettled. Well-running businesses in Kiziba are ranged as follow: 136 agricultural businesses, 228 in trading, 44 in services, 56 in vocational activities and 85 in livestock.

51 Saving and Internal Lending Community groups from Nyabiheke and Kiziba Refugee camp and its host community supported by the PRM/PAC Project shared out Rwf 151,000,765 including Rwf 46,472,765 of interest. The share-out event took place at Nyabiheke camp stadium on 29^th February 2024 and Kiziba Refugee camp 27^th March 2024.

Within one year, the 27 Nyabiheke SILC groups (583 members) have saved up to Frw 67,198,000 and Rwf 29,995,695 of interest from internal credits, making a sum of Rwf 97,193,695 from March 2023 to 27^th February 2024.

The SILC group from the Camp with the highest share out amount received Rwf 10,800,000 (Dukundane Q7A), while the host community group with the highest savings received Rwf 4,338,330 Rwf (Hindukirawigire Mugera).

The SILC member with the highest savings in the camp is Aline Nyirangirimana from the Korawigire Q3 SILC group who got Rwf 793,600 while the one from the host community is Ugirikirezi Claire from Tuzamurane Agakomeye SILC group who got Rwf 368,160.

On 27^th March 2024, 24 other SILC groups from Kiziba supported by the PAC project regrouping 531 members from the camp and host community have saved up to 37,330,000 Rfw and have shared out 53,807,070 Rfw including 16,477,070 Rwf of interest from microloans among members.

Ayinkamiye Madeleine from the host community has saved 367,000 Rfw and has received and shared 446,500 Rfw while Nyiramubyeyi Annonciate from the refugee camp has saved 393,000 Rfw and has shared out 478,165 Rfw.

During this shared out saving group Twitezimbere Kagabiro has shared out 4,454,000Rfw and have shared out 6,593,562 Rfw.

From March 11 to 12, 2024, the General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda convened at the Cenetra Hotel/Kabuga, to evaluate the implementation of the 2023 recommendations, to review the 2023 activity report and the 2024 operational plan, as well as the formulation of new recommendations.

The Rwandan bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda, Arnaldo Sánchez Catalán, various representatives of Caritas Rwanda’s partner organizations, the directors of Diocesan Caritas, as well as the personnel from Caritas Rwanda and the ten Diocesan Caritas, attended the General Assembly.

Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, President of Caritas Rwanda, congratulated all Caritas (Caritas Rwanda and Diocesan Caritas) for celebrating the World Day of the Poor (November 19, 2023) in communion and sharing with the poor in parishes, hospitals, Catholic Health Facilities (FOSA), and in ecclesial communities, during his opening remarks. He emphasized the Pope Francis’s message for the day, which reminds us that the poor are not just statistics but rather real people who value human connection and our sense of humanity above all.

Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza clarified that Caritas is in the last year of its 2020-2024 strategic plan, and that the mid-term evaluation showed that it is on the right path to its implementation. “And we rely on your support until the end. We will come back to you at the appropriate time for your participation in the formulation of the new five-year strategic plan 2025-2029”, he added.

In his speech, the Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda, Mgr. Arnaldo Sánchez Catalán, underlined that Caritas is not just a matter of initiating social projects and humanitarian strategies that are successful and effective, but rather it is engaging an ongoing process of communion, of love in every nation. “Caritas, distinguishes you, make your difference from all other agencies working in the world. Thank you for your commitment and may God bless your solutions for 2024. It is essential for you to always go back to the source of your work, which is God’s love for us and our vocation to love in return. Precisely, because of the identity of Caritas depends directly on the mission it has received this love of God and the love of the Church for all people”, he added.

The 2023 activities report was presented following the 4 departments of Caritas Rwanda, namely: The Administrative and Financial Department, the Socio-Welfare Department, the Health Department and the Development Department. In general, activities that were planned for 2023 were achieved on average of more than 90%.

During this General Assembly, there were discussions on strengthening strategies to increase charity month collections and get them to their intended destination. In 2023, the Diocesan Caritas of Ruhengeri was the most successful by raising Frw 25,198,908 of funds, followed by the Diocesan Caritas of Kigali which raised Frw 21,265,925.

The Natural Family Planning (NFP) program was also discussed, where 37,237 couples benefited from NFP services (including 6,544 new couples in 2023) according to the Health Department’s report of 2023. The General Assembly participants proposed giving cards to couples using NFP services as identification in case they are questioned about their family planning method.

The General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda made several recommendations including those related to the collaboration and synergy between Caritas and the various commissions of the C.EP.R, the strengthening of several existing activities and strategies to increase funds for self-reliance and sustainability of Caritas, the celebration of Caritas Day / World Day of the Poor at all levels, as well as the animation of integral human development with emphasis on young people.

Through its project RBF Enabel, Caritas Rwanda have conducted various annual meetings (one in each of the 10 Diocesan Caritas) with individuals linked with the Natural Family Planning Program (NFP) for the year 2022/2023 from 27th February to 15th March 2024. These meetings aimed at reviewing achievements, discussing upcoming activities, addressing challenges, and proposing solutions in regard to the NFP.

In addition to the above-mentioned objectives, these meetings were also organized to discuss long-term strategies and discuss the activities planned for the year 2023/2024.

The above meetings were organized with the support of the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), through the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel).

Organized annually, the meetings on NFP in each Diocesan Caritas bring together the director of diocesan Caritas, the head of the family commission of the Diocese, the parish priest (all parishes), managers of hospitals and Approved Health Training (FOSA), as well as as the in charge of NFP Program in hospitals and health facilities.