The initiative focuses on raising awareness to prevent the transmission of HIV and STDs in the area and provide a package of HIV prevention services such as HIV counseling and testing, medical male circumcision, condoms promotion and distribution, contraceptives and demystify HIV.

In 2014, GHDF partnered with UNICEF to raise awareness about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents aged 10 to 19years of age in Nyamagabe district, living in Kigeme Refugee Camp and in 4 surrounding cells (Kigeme, Nyamugari, Nzena, Remera). After conducting a baseline survey, the results showed that most adolescents had heard about STIs and HIV/Aids, but there were still misconceptions and myths about the ways through which HIV is transmitted and to protect oneself from infection. Furthermore, the stigmatization of people living with HIV was quite high.

A “Youth Friendly Clinic” office was established at Nyamagabe Youth Center, were adolescents would receive information about HIV and STIs prevention and condoms were distributed. 80 volunteers were selected from the 4 cells (20 in each cell) were trained for 10 days on strategies to mobilize adolescents and disseminate prevention messages. GHDF trained 6 youth workers, 4 Community Health workers, 8 local leaders and 2 religious leaders to take part in the prevention campaign. “HIV ambassadors” were selected to coordinate ethe HIV prevention activities at cell level.

Along with the sensitization, adolescent boys were encouraged to be circumcised, since medical male circumcision has shown to reduce the probability of contracting HIV and STDs. The volunteers also encouraged the youth to take part in HIV testing to be informed of their status.The Nyamagabe and Kigeme Health Centers signed a memorandum of agreement with GHDF and they are the ones who carried out the Circumcision and HIV voluntary testing.
The activities were very successful : from the 21stto the 31st of July 2014, 900 adolescents were circumcised, and from November 12th to the end of December, 3500 adolescents were tested for HIV.

Through its implementation of the project, GHDF demonstrated that it is feasible, through the district administrators, health personnel and volunteers at the community level, to decentralize services to reach adolescents from vulnerable households with sexual and reproductive health services.

UNICEF has accepted GHDF’s proposition to extend their partnership and expand the implementation of the HIV prevention project to other sectors of Nyamagabe and other districts.