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Hello Friends of Uganda Village Project,

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In health,
UVP

 

 

Narrow Escape

By UVP Staff

Ivan’s story is shared with his consent.

The collective HIV/AIDS global target, known as 95-95-95, sets the benchmark and agenda for HIV/AIDS eradication: 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their status are receiving treatment, and 95% of people on HIV treatment have a suppressed viral load so their immune system remains strong and the likelihood of their infection being passed on is greatly reduced. To reach this target, we must ensure that everyone knows their status – and therefore reach them with HIV testing. For many individuals that UVP meets, participation at one of our outreach events marks the first time they have ever been tested for HIV.    

 Recently, UVP partnered with Busembatya Health Centre to host an integrated HIV, Malaria, and STI outreach event at a local mosque. It was here that community member Ivan graciously offered to tell us his story. 

Ivan recalled hearing many radio messages explaining the HIV epidemic and offering guidance on how to get tested, yet he never found himself taking action. Fear, pride, anxiety — these are common feelings for those that have never been tested. To Ivan, finding out he may be HIV positive was like issuing a death sentence.   

It wasn’t until Ivan met UVP interns that he started to take a keen interest in our programs and HIV testing. He started regularly attending sensitization sessions led by the intern teams, asking for clarification when he didn’t fully understand the information being presented.  

During our integrated program at the local mosque, Ivan nervously took his first HIV test. Fortunately, the result was negative. From that moment, Ivan pledged to live a “responsible life” – determined to avoid another “narrow escape,” as he called it.  

On a path to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, UNAIDS urges continued community engagement with high-impact HIV prevention and treatment services. It is also crucial that we specifically reach men with these services, directly combating low male engagement across Uganda. Testing was a major milestone for Ivan, and a major shift in his view on how he can personally play a role in ending the epidemic. We hope Ivan continues to be an exemplary steward of public health and a champion of HIV prevention by supporting other men to learn their status.

This Is My Turning Point

By Tumusiime Loy

 

Joel is from Namunkanaga 1. He’s got that youthful energy – full of ideas and dreams – and he’s always sharing his wisdom with his friends. I met Joel at an adolescent reproductive health activity last August. The weather was perfect; primed for a fun day of football with a bit of health education afterwards. This is our go to outreach event to reach youths, especially young men. 

 

During this session, we taught Joel and his friends about contraception and how to plan out their future families. As one of nine members of his own family, Joel was really engaged in learning as much as her could. Before this session, he wasn’t really sure where to go for advice, support, or consultation. Lucky for Joel, UVP was there to answer his questions in an open, honest dialogue. 

 

It can be tough for young men to talk about sex – a sensitive subject in any culture. At UVP, we try to make this conversation loose, normal, and remove the stigma and shame around a topic that is so universal to all humans. 

 

“This is my turning point; I will help other youths to overcome the ignorance about sexual and reproductive health!”

 

You can learn more about our reproductive health program on our website, and follow along on social media for ongoing updates about our youth engagement activities! 

 

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Joel's story is being shared with his permission.