Held twice a month, Kigali’s Car Free Day on 13th July 2025 that brings together people of all ages who run, walk, cycle or do group fitness activities along major city roads closed to motor traffic. This Sunday’s edition was special it combined community fitness with free medical check-ups, including HIV testing and counseling services.

The event gathered participants at BK Arena, who then jogged or cycled up to the Kigali Convention Center area, where mobile clinics offered free screenings for various non-communicable diseases and HIV.

Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, reminded young people that while medical advances have improved lives, the virus has not disappeared.

“Some people think HIV no longer exists, but it does. The younger generation never witnessed how devastating AIDS was in the past because of what we have done to control it but we see signs that it is returning among youth,” he said.

Dr Sabin Nsanzimana Minister of Health at Kigali Car Free Day

He urged young people to avoid risky behavior, saying abstinence remains the best option, but when it is not possible, condoms should be used consistently.

“You have only one body protect it now so that you grow old healthy instead of becoming frail too early due to preventable diseases,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.

He added that substance abuse, such as excessive alcohol and drugs, often leads to unsafe sex and should be avoided.

HIV Rates Declining But Challenges Remain

According to the Ministry of Health, Rwanda has achieved a 76% reduction in new HIV infections over the past 15 years. Despite this progress, more than 220,000 people across the country rely on antiretroviral treatment to stay healthy.

Recent data shows that 95% of patients adhere to their medication, helping them suppress the virus. However, the disease continues to claim lives seven out of every 100 deaths reported daily in Rwanda are still linked to HIV/AIDS, mainly due to late diagnosis and stigma.

The Car Free Day message comes ahead of the 13th International AIDS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), which Rwanda is hosting from July 13–17. The conference has attracted over 3,000 delegates from around the world and will focus heavily on new prevention tools, such as a promising injection that could protect people from contracting HIV for up to six months with just one dose.

Dr. Nsanzimana emphasized that Rwanda’s commitment goes beyond hosting the conference the country is ready to invest more domestic resources as global funding declines.

“Fighting HIV is a never-ending battle. The virus is still here, so we must continue testing, providing treatment and embracing new solutions like long-acting injections,” he said.

For Rwanda, linking health awareness to community fitness events shows how collective responsibility can drive change. Participants in Sunday’s Car Free Day were reminded that testing regularly, using protection and staying informed remain the best weapons against HIV.

As IAS 2025 discussions unfold this week, Rwanda’s message is clear: with the right knowledge, behavior and innovation, an HIV-free generation is possible.