KIGALI, Rwanda, 16 December 2008 — The Mashirika Theatre group opened the countrys annual Conference on Children Affected By HIV/AIDS. The performers and children are survivors of the 1994 genocide.
The three-day conference attracted over 300 international and national researchers, development practitioners, experts and Rwanda children with the theme of ‘equity in financing services’ for HIV-affected children.
The 1994 Genocide left many children orphaned and some have lost one or both parents to the HIV pandemic, said Executive Secretary of the Rwandan National Aids Control Commission Dr. Anita Asiimwe. She hailed Rwandans for taking responsibility for orphaned and vulnerable children.