During April 1994, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled ethnic conflict in Rwanda to enter northern Tanzania. With emergency camps receiving up to 4000 new refugees daily, providing food, clean water, shelter, sanitation, and first aid were priorities. However, overcrowding, boredom, a thriving commercial sex trade, and severe strains upon traditional social structure and family life encouraged high-risk sexual behavior, making camp residents especially vulnerable to HIV infection. Before the exodus of refugees from Rwanda, estimated urban HIV infection rates in the country were as high as 33%. In August 1994, AIDSCAP launched a one-year HIV education and prevention pilot project at Benaco Camp, temporary home to approximately 250,000 refugees. AIDSCAP contracted with CARE, Population Services International, and John Snow Incorporated to implement the project. Such early HIV interventions in a refugee setting had never before been attempted on such a large scale. The text of an interview with a CARE Primary Health Care Unit senior program officer is presented.

[No Keywords available]

virus infection HIV Infections Africa south of the Sahara refugee Human immunodeficiency virus infection population Migrants demography Rwanda developing country Population Dynamics Developing Countries Refugees Disease Viral Diseases Diseases Virus Diseases Africa Article Africa, Northern migration Eastern Africa French Speaking Africa Tanzania Demographic Factors English Speaking Africa Hiv Infections--prevention and control Emigration and Immigration Transients and Migrants general aspects of disease Africa, Eastern