By Purity Nthiana

We have all been educated on HIV and AIDS over the years and are aware of people living wholesome lives with the virus. These survivors have had a great impact on the community on how the disease is perceived and also how individuals with the virus are treated. These people encourage the larger community and newly diagnosed people that one can continue living their life and doing the things they love even with the virus

During the last year’s world aids day. I met several women working as community health volunteers. These women in their early to mid-50s have embraced their status and are fully living a good life with the virus. They make their stories heard during community health education and by that give courage to people who are afraid of being tested while preaching hope to those that have tested positively. They constantly check on them (mostly the young generation) and continuously remind them to take their drugs, eat healthy, check their mental health and live a fulfilling life.

More to that, they teach safe sex. Because sex is one of the major ways HIV is transmitted. They encouraged the use of condoms among youth engaging in any form of sexual activity. Together with other health workers they provide information on how one can prevent themselves before and after exposure such as PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) and PReP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). With the increase in new infections mainly among the youth aged 15-29, we need these survivors to raise their voice even more. To bring their stories and experiences and teach our young people on how to protect themselves from this virus. to provide information needed by our youth to ensure that this curve is flattened and, in this way, ensure no new cases are reported.

Miss Nthiana is a SRHR advocate at NAYA.