Since 2016, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with organizations such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Kigali Hope Organization (KHO), has revolutionized access to HIV prevention through free condom kiosks. Strategically placed in high-risk hotspots across the country, these kiosks have provided an innovative solution to ensure 24/7 access to condoms, contributing to a safer and healthier community.

Key Achievements

The situational analysis conducted in 2023 highlights a significant increase in condom demand and distribution since the kiosks’ inception. Over 2.7 million condoms were distributed in 2023 alone, compared to just 901,668 in 2016. This surge underscores the critical role condom kiosks play in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, including young people, sex workers, and others at high risk of HIV and STIs.

Locations of Condom Kiosks

Currently, there are 10 condom kiosks operating across Rwanda:

• Kigali City: 1 Remera Migina, 1 Remera Giporoso, 1 Gatsata, 1 Gikondo Magerwa, 1 Nyamirambo, 1 Gisimenti.

• Huye District: 1 kiosk.

• Rusizi District: 1 kiosk.

• Rubavu District: 2 kiosks.

Community Impact

Local leaders, healthcare providers, and community members overwhelmingly acknowledge the importance of condom kiosks. These kiosks provide free, round-the-clock access to condoms, enabling individuals to make informed and responsible choices about their sexual health. The initiative has also contributed to reducing unwanted pregnancies and the spread of HIV and other STIs in the regions where kiosks are operational.

Challenges and Recommendations

While the initiative has achieved remarkable milestones, there are areas for improvement. Users and operators have identified challenges such as the limited number of condoms provided per person, the lack of additional services like lubricants and HIV self-test kits, and privacy concerns in kiosk placements. To address these issues, the analysis recommends:

• Increasing the daily condom allowance per user.

• Expanding the kiosk network to underserved areas.

• Adding services such as emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, and educational materials on safer sex practices.

• Improving kiosk designs to enhance privacy and user experience.

Looking Ahead

The condom kiosks initiative has proven to be a cost-effective and impactful strategy in Rwanda’s fight against HIV. By scaling up the program and addressing the identified barriers, Rwanda can further reduce the prevalence of HIV, STIs, and unplanned pregnancies, fostering a healthier future for its citizens.

Conclusion

Condom kiosks stand as a beacon of innovation and accessibility in public health, empowering individuals and communities to take control of their sexual health. With 2,791,109 condoms distributed in 2023 across 10 kiosks in key locations, the program’s success is undeniable. However, to build on this progress, it is vital to address existing challenges, increase public awareness, and expand the reach of these life-saving kiosks. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier Rwanda for all.

#KigaliHopeOrganization member of the MenEngage Rwanda is represented at the 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium in Kigali, Rwanda

Today marks the First day of the 3rd MenEngage Africa Symposium in Kigali, Rwanda. Our theme is Accountability and transformation through gender-equitable evidence-based programming. #MEASymposium #MEAYouth #MEASymposium2023 #MenEngageAfrica

To you partners, friends, colleagues, staff team, ... Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2023!

Today morning #KigaliHopeOrganization was among of organizations that met the new @UNAIDS Rwanda Country Director @HindHassan_ @RwandaNGOForum offices

Friday, July 29th 2022 One by one: Youth HIV Campaign Event on Advancing youth leadership in the HIV response in Africa

The One By One: Youth HIV Campaign is an innovative youth-led campaign that has been designed to combat stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, while advocating for access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. The campaign is supported with grant funding from Gilead Sciences, Inc. With much progress in addressing the HIV epidemic being made, young people still remain at risk, and too many young people lack access to the sexual and reproductive health information and services that would empower them to protect themselves. Youth leadership is important especially if we want to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and your endeavors have ensured that young African people have an active say and play a vital role in local programs. To end the AIDS epidemic, youth responses to HIV must be integrated into national AIDS plans and be supported by Governments, non governmental organizations, and private sectors. This event will highlight the importance of the complementary resources and capabilities that all the different sectors contribute to youth leadership in addressing the global AIDS response. In addition, this event will feature African youth leaders and discussions on how they can be supported to lead the fight against this long running epidemic and how they can leverage the increasing use of digital media to enhance their advocacy efforts.

Five representatives from 5 different organizations working with young people and people living with HIV agreed to form a coalition in order to enhance their collaboration for a better improvement of lives of young people and people living with HIV in Rwanda.

Those five organizations are:

-          Rwanda Network of People Living with HIV (RRP+)

-          TRI-Rwanda

-          Dream Village (DV)

-          Together-As-One

-          Kigali Hope Organization (KHO)

It is in that regards that the Coalition Y+ Rwanda is organizing a meeting with the coalition member organizations with the aim to discuss different problems/challenges that currently affecting young people living with HIV and analyze what we can do together as in our daily activities and what we can advocate together for better improvement of lives of young people living with HIV in Rwanda.

A.      Objectives

The overarching objectives of the meeting are the following:

-          Participants will learn what are the different strategies by RBC for the support to the young people living with HIV

-          Identification of different organizations working with young people living with HIV in Rwanda

-          Identification of different opportunities that can be of a great benefit to the young people living with HIV in Rwanda

-          Identification of other opportunities with different organizations working for the improvement of lives of young people

B.      Expected results

-          Every participant to the meeting will understand what are the priorities by RBC in terms of interventions to young people living with HIV

-          Identified other key stakeholders working with young people living with HIV

-          Identified different opportunities that can be of great benefit for young people living with HIV

Identified possibilities of building strong linkages between different organizations working with young people living with HIV and possibilities of working/linking with other organizations with different areas of operations (Sexual and reproductive health, trainings on vocational and employment trainings - TVETs…)

RWAMNET Annual General Assembly

New member organization accepted to the network

Place: Olympic Hotel Kimironko

Date: 18th March 2022

KHO wishes you and your loved ones a delightful holiday season and a fulfilling new year 2022. As we close the 2021 chapter, we sincerely thank our partners, donors & beneficiaries for your support during this year. Happy, safe holidays to you all!

Yesterday, together with other partners, we celebrated #WorldAIDSDay2021 by reflecting on the progress made after #40YearsofHIV and confronting the continued challenges ahead to finally #EndAIDS as a public health threat by 2030. #WAD2021

National Celebration of the International Safe Abortion Day with a theme: "Gukuramo Inda muburyo bunoze Kandi bwemewe namategeko ni Ubuvuzi bwa ngombwa. Umuco wo gukuramo inda muburyo butanoze tuwugire amateka"

Baterwa ipfunwe no kujya gushaka udukingirizo ku manywa

Bamwe mu batuye mu Mujyi wa Kigali baravuga ko baterwa ipfunwe no kujya gushaka udukingirizo ku manywa kuko hari abadashaka ko hagira ubabona.

Kuva icyorezo cya Covid-19 cyagera mu Rwanda amasaha yo gukora cyane cyane aya nijoro yagiye arushaho kuba macye ubundi akanakurwaho burundu kandi akenshi ari yo bakundaga kujya gushakamo udukingirizo.

Connecting Conversations on young people living in humanitarian settings on Thursday, July 22!

Connecting Conversations Session Three

Youth Living in Humanitarian Settings:

Addressing SRH needs to avoid compounding crisis

July 22, 7AM EDT

The certificate was awarded to KHO (way long before we change the name because before our organization name was: Kigali Hope Organization) as one of the community based organizations (CBOs) which implemented the "MOUNTAIN MOVERS PROJECT" from 2011 to 2015

During this time when Rwanda is fighting with the covid-19 pandemic, KHO have been able to support 50 young people students at GS Twimpala/Bugesera District. The support is about school feeding.

This group of young people has been selected because they are coming from poor families; which families are not able to pay the minimum required for a student to have lunch at school.

The support will cover two school terms till the end of the 2021 academic year.

On Sunday 1/12/2019 #WorldAIDSDay #KHO team joined #Rwanda-ns and #ICASA2019Rwanda participants for #carfreeday. The public sport is aimed to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and fight stigma. @RBCRwanda @RwandaHealth #WAD2019 l https://t.co/8WGiATiATU