In Kyengeza, Kikandwa Subcounty, a group of young people had the opportunity to learn about sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) through talks led by peer educators. During one session, they discussed HIV, sparking a life-changing conversation.
Nalukenge Prossy (a fake name), a young woman from the community, decided to speak privately with a peer educator after the session. She shared her concerns about her health and her relationships. Prossy had been separated from the father of her two children for over three years. After living as a single mother, she entered a new relationship and had another child. However, that relationship also ended. Her first partner wanted to reconcile, but Prossy had reservations. She had tried to talk to him about getting an HIV test, but he always avoided the topic. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t convince him to take the test.
When Prossy heard about an outreach event organized by Action 4 Health Uganda, which offered HIV testing and other health services, she saw an opportunity. She convinced her partner to attend the event with her. Together, they took the HIV test. The results shocked them: Prossy tested negative for HIV, but her partner tested positive. The health worker explained that her partner had been diagnosed with HIV two years earlier but had kept it a secret because he feared rejection. He had been on treatment but had not told Prossy.
The health worker immediately put Prossy on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect her from contracting HIV. For Prossy, the experience changed her life. She reflected, “My life has surely been saved! I would have caught the virus, maybe passed it on, and left my children to suffer.”
Religious leaders also attended and benefited from the outreach, as shared by Imam Twariq from Bongole Mosque, Kyengenza, Kikandwa Sub-County, Mityana District. “The message, ‘Beera Steady, Plan Your Family,’ is something we should all follow to ensure a better future.”
This story shows how health education and outreach programs empower people to make informed decisions about their health. Prossy’s experience highlights the importance of proper support at the right time in helping individuals protect their health and their communities from HIV.
