B R AVE

I Al s GkyReLi, Jac

ight r at Stra oluntee ation, has av nd Talk Fouaring her story en sh ith HIV. be w of living reach her on u can 84 between Yo 73 070259d 7pm. At the am an of April she , 8 g a beginnin to Addis Abab da aveled tr to atten d Ethiopia nference. Rea . o outh c tory on page 3 y s Jacky's

Hey, respect each other's answers. Being someone's boyfriend or girlfrend doesn't mean sex. Someone loving or saying they love you doesn't mean they have a right to have sex with you. Say no to sex. Give yourself a chance to concentrate on your studies.
o. 3 Ma Vol. 17 N rch-April 2011

hiona Mutesi is a resilient girl. She wakes up at 5am everyday to begin a two-hour walk through Katwe, a slum in Kampala, to fetch water. In Katwe many girls are child mothers. The human waste from downtown Kampala is dumped into Katwe. The smell is terrible. Disease, violence and neglect are common.
Whenever Phiona gets discouraged, she thinks of another test of survival Chess. Chess is a lot like my life, she says. If you make smart moves you stay away from danger. Any bad decision could be your last.

Phiona, her mother, two brothers and niece live in a small one roomed house with only one window. The contents of Phionas "Chess is home are: two water jugs, a lot like my basin, small charcoal stove, life. You make a few sauce pans, plates smart moves you and cups, toothbrush, tiny stay away from mirror, Bible and two thindanger. Any bad old mattresses. decision could

match Phiona ever won was against a boy who had beaten her before. When I first saw chess, I watched kids play and get happy. I wanted a chance to be that happy," Phiona recalls.

Within a year, Phiona could beat her coach Robert. He started looking for better competition in boarding schools. But children from better backgrounds refused to play with the slum be your last." kids. Katende kept asking Phionas dad died when until 10-year-old Phiona she was about three` years old. was playing with teens from these For her entire life Phionas main schools and beating them soundly. challenge has been to find food. Then she played university players, One afternoon in 2005, when she defeating them, as well. was 9 but had already dropped out of school, she secretly followed her She learnt the game through brother, Brian out of their home in constant practice of trial and error. hopes he might lead to a meal. She In 2007 Phiona won the Uganda watched Brian enter a dusty womens junior championship, corridor, sit on a bench when she was 11. She and begin playing with won that title two years Problems some black and white in a row. In 2009 she will always exist. must objects. She peeped travelled to Juba, But like Phiona you ng around a corner Sudan, to represent find ways of recoveri again and again. from problems and Uganda in Africas ilience. The Coach, Robert setbacks. That is res International Childrens to It is also being able Katende saw Chess Tournament. It ons deal with your emoti Phiona and invited was Phionas first trip and be positive her to play chess. out of Uganda and to an about life. airport. When the plane Phiona started walking flew above the clouds, Phiona six kilometers everyday to thought they were about to play chess. She says she must have reach heaven. I could never have lost her first 50 matches. The first imagined this world I was visiting, Phiona says. I felt like a queen.

at ot 16 points school. She g l SS, Kampala. ck in Phiona is ba t Mbuga Vocationa uild a join S doctor and b PLE to to become a r her mother. Her dream is tside Katwe fo house ou
have been having unprotected sex. It is common! How does it happen? 1. The partner who seems not to have HIV might be in the window period. Soon the test will detect the virus. 2. The partner who seems not to have the virus really does not have it. He or she has been lucky. Getting infected is a matter of chance, and it simply has not happened yet. But if the couple continue having unprotected sex, the negative partner is at very high risk of becoming infected. Protect yourself from HIV by delaying sex. When you decide to have sex, test together and use condoms correctly - always. Have only one sexual partner who only has you. Dr Sabrina Kitaka, Mulago

What makes one partner to have HIV yet the other does not have? Ainomugisha M, Immaculate
Discordance is when one partner has HIV while the other does not, yet they

Girls SS, Rukungiri

2 Straight Talk, March-April 2011

6
I also do extra-curricular activities like debate and sports to keep me healthy."

7
am worried or sad, I talk about my feelings with someone I trust. I dont stay in isolation."

Aim to do the best at everything you do. When things get tough, be resilient and don't give up. You will make it. Straight Talk travelled to western Uganda and talked to students about being the best. Give yourself time to think and try out new things 1 - Nakayima Alaisa, 20, S6, Head

counsel young people experiencing similar situations.

S3, Booma International School, Mbarara, says: If I dont do something right the first time, I dont worry. I keep trying. and make plans to be a better person.

Focus on your strengths 3 -Ashly Queen Namuwonge, 16,

SS, says: "To keep going I am inspired by my brother and sisters who have had their education successfully and got good jobs.

GET role models 7 -Miimi Hawa, 18, S6, Mbarara

Dream big - have a goal 9 -Nakayondo Mariam, 17, S4,

Nyamitanga SS, Mbarara, says: I remind myself each and every night what my goal is. This keeps me focused.

prefect, Kabwohe SS, Sheema says: Everyone is different and good at something. I like taking time off to think, learn and dream. Once I come up with something new, I start practicing with determination to get best results."

Peters SS, Sheema, says: Watching other people go through hard times makes me feel lucky and sometimes feel that I am not alone. It gives me the energy to try harder to succeed.

Make small efforts each day 4 -Nahwera Catherine, 18, S4, St

8 -Musinguzi Lauben, 17, S3,

Mbarara SS, Nyamityobora Campus, says: When I lost my parents I joined a fellowship. My friends counselled me. I also now

10 -Nakule Evelyn, 14, S2, Kiboga Progressive SS, adds: "I always set achievable goals because God created for all of us to prosper."

Build confidence 2 -Asiimwe Precious, 16, S3,

Be happy and make friends 5 -Kirabo Polline, 18, S4, Booma

International School, Mbarara, Be happy. Other people will want to be near you. When I lost my father, I sat home for two years looking after my little brothers and sisters. It was not fun. I am happy to be back in school and cant waste time. I want to be a lawyer and an actress.

Bishop Ogez HS, Bushenyi, says: "I used to perform poorly in Mathematics but one day I decided to change that. I made it a priority to do a number each day. Now I am among the best Mathematicians in my class.

you can u are, regardless of who yo ink say or th what others don't of you. Get started, wait. Don't give up. Keep practicing.

Believe u your be in yodorself -st,

6 -Caliph Rafiki, 20, S6,

Basajjabalaba SS, Bushenyi, says: I am a friendly person. I dont lock myself away from the world. I get out and join other students or friends."

. ant to be in future Know what you w essful. Talk cc Imagine yourself su d adult or ends, a truste to good fri what you can do teacher to discover only about making best. Do not think Find out why it to the next class. Life is not only you are in school. y education levels about passing man and believing in but being yourself t exchange your your abilities. Do no something you precious body for and hands to can use your brains , once you rginity get. Time is like vi ve it. Wasswa lose it, you cant ha ght

Twinomujuni Smart, 18, S4, Itendero HS, Sheema, says: If I

Ask for help

Strai Hassan, Chairmana College Talk Club, Mit ala Kawempe, Kamp

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a book about Williams amazing story a journey that offers hope and shows that one individual can make a difference.

He got light out of wind

At 14 William dropped out of school. His family could not afford school fees.

Though he was not in school, William continued to think, learnand dream. Armed with curiosity, determination, and a book he discovered in a nearby library, he embarked on a brave planto build a windmill that could bring his family the electricity.

Using scrap metal, tractor parts, and eucalyptus trees, William made a windmill that would successfully power four light bulbs and two radios in his familys compound. Soon, news of his invention spread, attracting interest and offers of help from around the world. William returned to school and was also offered a chance to visit wind farms in the United States of America, much like the ones he hopes to build across Africa.

William Kamkwamba, 23, was born in Malawi, Africa. Like most people in his village, his family survived on a few crops they could grow. The situation became even worse when, in 2002, Malawi experienced most severe famine in 50 years.

TRUE STORY

Straight Talk, March-April 2011

It is either a female or male condom, not both

Thinking about sex? That is ok (normal and natural!) But this thoughts don't mean having sex. Wait. You have the ability to control those feelings. In the meantime, let's talk about condoms to equip you for safer sex in future.
A girl, 16, from Booma International School, Mbarara has a question:

Talking about condoms is safer sex

female condom and the boy doesn't wear a male condom, is he protected?" If a girl wears a female condom, the boy shouldn't wear the male condom. It is either a male or female condom but never both.

"If a girl wears a

When used consistently and correctly, condoms prevent the sexual transmission of HIV during sex. They also prevent pregnancy, other STIs and risk of getting cervical cancer. The main reason condoms fail is improper use. Learn to use condoms properly: Use a new condom for every time you have sex from start to finish.

Before sexual contact, put the condom on the tip of the erect penis with the rolled side out. Holding the tip, unroll the condom all the way to the base of the erect penis. After ejaculation and before the penis gets soft, hold the rim of the condom and carefully withdraw the penis from the vagina. Then gently pull the condom off the penis, making sure that semen doesn't pour out. Wrap the condom in tissue and throw it in the dustbin or a pit latrine. If you feel the condom break at any point during sex, stop immediately. Withdraw and remove the broken condom. Put on a new condom. Condoms should NEVER be RE-USED or used after the expiration date on the package. Avoid having sex when you are drunk to enable you use condoms correctly.

Stick to o in O - on yveurtoNany thDreat'ts. gi

Ek yasiimire Joanitah, 17, S4, St Agatha kabale

Genital herpes is a common STD passed on through direct contact with an infected person. The fluid within the blisters is full of the virus that causes genital herpes and is very infectious. Once a person has herpes they have the virus for the rest of their life. Genital herpes produces sores in and around the vaginal area, the penis, the anus, and on the buttocks or thighs. Sores may appear in other areas if the virus comes in contact with breaks in the skin. The sores appear near where the virus has entered the body, such as the mouth, penis, or vagina. They also can be inside the vagina and on the cervix in women, or in the urinary passage of women and men. A person may be infected, but have no symptoms. This means that a person with no obvious sores can spread the disease.

tender, swollen glands in the genital area discharge of fluid from the vagina and feeling of pressure in the abdomen keep the infected area clean and dry to prevent other infections from developing avoid touching the sores wash your hands after contact with the sores avoid sexual contact from the time you first feel any symptoms until the sores are completely healed (that is, the scab has fallen off and new skin has formed where the sore was) between outbreaks, use condoms during sex for added protection from the virus Treatment includes a medication called acyclovir that stops the virus from reproducing itself. It does not remove the virus from the body.

The diary of a young positive

Jacky is a young lady living with HIV. She likes sharing her story. Recently she got malaria and fell very sick. This got her thinking about the importance of sleeping under a treated mosquito net. She was rushed to hospital immediately. She is now fine and has been busy answering your letters and phone calls.
She says: "Thank you all who called or sent me SMS asking for advice. It was a great pleasure hearing from you and being able to share with you my story of living with HIV. Together we can stop HIV. Many of you appreciated my decision of disclosure.These are some of SMS I received: "Hi Jacky, u may not know how big your personal story is changing people's attitudes about HIV and those living with the virus. It's really a great job youre doing." Hi Jacky, I luv u 4 being brave.Thanks 4 saving someone's life. Hope you're fine. Hi Jacky, am impressed by what you're doing. Pliz call me, I've a serious problem."' Following the headline that said "Am a free girl now", some of you expressed interests of dating me. But actually the meaning of that headline was about disclosure of my HIV status. I meant that I was now free with myself and everyone else. I no longer fear to go for treatment or take my medicine because people will see me at the clinic or know that I am on ARVs. Also, I am in a relationship.

Prevention

Signs

Skin sores small red bumps that later turn into blisters filled with fluid itching or burning in the genital or anal area pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area

Do you have questions for Jacky? Send them

to PO Box 22366, KAMPALA

People with genital herpes are four times more likely to have HIV. If you think you have symptoms of herpes, seek counselling and treatment from the nearest health centre. Dr Sabrina Kitaka, Mulago Hospital

lk, Box 2236 . Write to: Straight Ta e Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' book 'Th

at yo of write and say th . Tell us stories pt sex demands d about this. u refuse to acce yo hear , have seen and win what you know 6. Best stories will

? Some wyou h c rt a f tfts threatsof hen W i t c u ge witchcra

4 Straight Talk, March-April 2011

STF
O. Bo x 22 36 22 P.P.O. Bo x A L 36 6 A A M P K KA M P A L A 6

Dear

Unprotected sex and PEP

Is it true that if I have unprotected sex and soon afterwards I go to the nearest health centre for ARVs and I start taking them, it will cure the disease? Ouma Moses, 15, Gulu SSS Hi, Moses. Hopefully you are just curious and what you are asking about has not happened to you. You are 15. Most boys wait until after 18 before they start sex. Boys who do well at school are usually not having sex at all. Can you think about that, Moses? But lets get to your question about taking ARVs after sex without a condom. ARVs taken after you may have been exposed to HIV are called PEP. For the health worker to provide PEP, you have to test negative for HIV. For the ARVs to work properly in their task of preventing HIV from taking root in your body, you must start taking them no later than 72 hours after the exposure -- the sooner the better. And you must take them for a month. Taking ARVs after sex is not a good protection strategy. PEP is not 100% guaranteed to prevent HIV infection. And taking ARVs is not simple. Do you have a friend with HIV who is on ARVs? Ask him how tough it is. They are not easy. You could react badly to them. Lastly, PEP is expensive.

the ability to sence of problems but Happiness is not the ab HS, Rubirizi nts of St Michael deal with them. - Stude
PEP is intended to prevent HIV from infecting people who are forced into sex, like a child who is raped, or get exposed to HIV accidentally, like a health worker who has a needle accident at work. It is not intended for people who willingly have unprotected sex with the idea that they will then get PEP. Do you get what we are saying? Moses, since you are in Gulu, go to Gulu Youth Centre for a boy talk. You have a right to understand sexuality and your body and a responsibility to protect it and stay in school. Good luck. are painkillers that act on the nerves, spinal cord and brain. The test for HIV does not mind about panadol or aspirin. It looks for the antibodies that the body makes against HIV. Antibodies are part of the immune system and form in reaction to germs, like HIV. After a person has been exposed to HIV, the body takes time to make antibodies. This is the window period. HIV is present, the person can infect others, but the test cannot find the antibodies and is "negative". Once the body makes the antibodies, the HIV test will be "positive". KC, even if panadol and aspirin could hide the virus which they cannot why would you want to hide it? Testing is confidential. Only the counsellor knows your results. And if you have HIV, you need to know, because there so much you need to do to stay shealthy. Most importantly, you need to start taking daily Septrin and get cured of TB. So forget hiding the virus. Knowledge is power, KC. f a man has sex intercourse with an animal, will it become pregnant? JK, Kalaki SSS, Soroti No, the animal will not become pregnant. The human sperm cell cannot join with the animals ovum. Straight Talk thinks that there are healthier ways of expressing sexual feelings than having sex with animals. It would be much safer to masturbate, for example. Sex with animals is called zoophilia. We looked it up on-line on Wikipedia and found that at least 15 animal diseases can be transmitted to humans this way, including leptospirosis and brucellosis. The latter is a life-threatening disease that can be extremely difficult to treat and can be transmitted to people from dogs, sheep, goats, camels and cattle. Doctors have found high levels of brucellosis in cattle around Mbarara and Kampala; most people with brucellosis get it from untreated milk, not sex with cattle! But if they had sex with cattle, they could get it that way. Human STDs are not carried by animals. But many human germs can survive in animal fluids for a short time. Therefore, human STDs may be transmitted if several boys have sex with a female cow in a short time frame. JK, are men having sex with animals in your community? STF's Pokot and Etesot journalists tell me it is culturally abominable. But we would like to hear from readers about this. Please write in.
Counsellor: Cathy Watson, nurse.

Panadol and HIV

Is it true that if you swallow panadol and you go for HIV testing, the virus cannot be detected? KC, 17, Ngora HS, Kumi Thanks, KC. We have heard the same question about aspirin. And the answer for both is No, No, No. Taking panadol or aspirin will not make HIV undetectable. Panadol and aspirin

In ST October, 2010, OB of how much you love her. Make her Lumino ST Club Busia, expressed understand that sex does not mean worry that his girlfriend might love. kill herself if he refuses to have sex with her. Many of you wrote Kwambukha Yunia Rose, 19, Nalwanza in advising him. Thank you. SS, Mbale, said: Convince your girlfriend with sweet words. Tell her the Mwaka John, 20, S6, Kitgum HS, dangers of early sex and assure her that said: What are you waiting for to you are together in spirit. report that girl? Talk to a trusted adult about her behaviour. Tumuramye Herbert, S3, St Michael HS, Sheema, said: That girl is Namutosi Susan, Manafwa HS, said: dangerous. Tell her not to rush things. Talk to her. Let her know that sex is If she really loves you, she should wait not your priority now." for the right time and reason. Afochan Shamim, S6, Paidha SSS, Zombo, said: Tell your girlfriend All published letters WIN Straight Talk T-SHIRTS!!!

A D V IC E 2 O B

Sex with animal

Your girlfriend may be seeking attention to have sex with you. But don't take her threats lightly. Ask her to accompany you to a counsellor at Masafu Hospital for professionial counselling. Dr David Basangwa, Butabika Mental Hospita l

must To keep your balance, you e is like riding a bicycle. Lif , Kabwohe SS, Sheema keep moving. - Students

Readers, advise Yikiru's Friend

My friend has parents who are ever drunk. They always fight and quarrel. She wants to leave home and get married. She is tired of their bad behaviour. Please advise her. Yikiru Phosca, Aria SSS, Arua

E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug, President: C Watson, Executive Director, S Ajok, Director Print T Agutu, Editorial Manager: M Akello, Editors: F Ouma, J Abongowath, P Kiwuuwa, J Nafula, Chief Designer: M eB Kalanzi, Designers: GB Mukasa, AB Dentine, Funded by

Straight talk FOUNDatiON Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, PO Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262031 Kampala (U),