BUJUMBURA November 16th (ABP) – Dr. Dieudonné Dushime on Thursday, November 10 called on peer educators and social animators from Kamenge and Kinama areas to sensitize the population on the means of prevention against HIV / AIDS diseases and sexually transmitted infections (IST). It was during his presentation in a training of peer educators and facilitators of the Kamenge and Kinama area, organized by the youth center.
Dr. Dushime recalled that HIV / AIDS is the virus responsible for weakening the human body’s defenses and is transmitted sexually, through the blood and from mother to child.
He took that opportunity to ask the participants to sensitize the population on the means of prevention against AIDS, in particular by using male and female condoms, the use of sharp objects such as needles and syringes as well as the treatment of people. living with HIV / AIDS with the aim of reducing the viral load and preventing further transmission of the virus.
Dr. Dushime explained that in Burundi, the national prevalence of HIV / AIDS among women and men is estimated at 3.6% in urban areas, 2.5% in rural areas, and 10.5% in rural areas.
In his presentation, he also reminded about STIs are infections due to bacteria, viruses and parasites transmitted through sex.
In some cases, STIs can have serious reproductive health consequences that go beyond immediate consequences such as infertility or the transmission of infections from mother to child, he explained.
To that end, Dr. Dushime clarified the similarities between STIs and HIV / AIDS, in particular the same modes of sexual transmission, the modes of prevention and the same factors favoring transmission.
In addition, he added, as differences, STIs promote HIV infection, HIV has no treatment or vaccine, but STIs are cured if they are treated on time and correctly.
Before ending his presentation, he invited the participants to sensitize the population on the means of prevention against those diseases especially for young girls and boys because, STIs and AIDS exist in their neighborhoods, adding that STIs are cured if they are well looked after on time.