One in three Rwandans living with HIV are over 50, new data shows

By The Inspirer.

Nearly 30% of people living with HIV in Rwanda are now over the age of 50, according to new figures shared by the Ministry of Health at the 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference underway in Kigali.

Health officials say the milestone reflects decades of progress in treatment and care, allowing more people to live longer with the virus than ever before.

HIV/AIDS was first detected in Rwanda in 1983 and spread rapidly in the late 1980s and 1990s. Today, Rwanda has cut new infections by 82% and AIDS-related deaths by 86%, thanks to widespread testing, treatment, and awareness campaigns.

The country has surpassed the United Nations’ ambitious 95-95-95 targets for HIV control — with 96% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 98% on treatment, and 98% achieving viral suppression that prevents transmission.

However, challenges remain. Adherence to treatment is still lower among young men aged 15–24, and some groups — including sex workers and men who have sex with men — remain at higher risk.

Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said Rwanda’s success offers hope that the epidemic can one day be ended altogether. “We have made progress. Children born protected from HIV have grown up and had their own children — a sign of how far we have come,” he said at the conference.

Global HIV experts gathering in Kigali will also discuss new tools like Lenacapavir, an injection approved last month by the U.S. FDA that can prevent HIV infection with just two doses a year — a breakthrough that could transform prevention efforts.

The five-day IAS conference runs until July 17 and brings together scientists, policymakers, and activists from around the world to share the latest research and strategies for ending HIV/AIDS for good.