“I need to be in charge of my health because it’s my life, my body and I know how it operates,” says Josphine of AYARHEP in Kenya. In this energetic video together with Banda, Jerry, Jerop and Zipporah she illustrates the importance of youth leadership. Loud and clear. Check out the video!
“I need to be in charge of my health because it is my responsibility”
Josphine: “I need to be in charge of my health because it is my life, my body and I know how it operates.” Banda: “I’m in charge of my health and life because it is my right.” Jerop: “Why do I need to be in charge of my own health and life? Simple: my body, my life, my choice, my opinions.” Zipporah: “I need to be in charge of my health because it is my responsibility. I need to lead the change.” Banda: “Because I want to be in control of my life and health.” Jerry: “The healthier, the longer I live.” Jerop: “As a young person, if strategically positioned, I am able to achieve the desired change. That’s why I need to lead the change.” Jerry: “I know the changes that I need.” Josphine: “I need to lead change because I am young, I’m energetic and because I have the expertise.” All: “And we are excited for YouthWise!”
About YouthWise
The YouthWise project aims to amplify the voices of young people living with HIV in Kenya and Malawi to enable them to practice self-care and fulfil their sexual and reproductive health and rights needs. YouthWise is a youth- and women-led project, implemented by Y+ Global, Y+ Kenya and Y+ Malawi which are networks of young people living with HIV, AYARHEP (Ambassador for Youth and Adolescent Reproductive Health Programmes) in Kenya and the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA) in Malawi.
There is a high need to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for adolescents and young people living with HIV. YouthWise aims to amplify the voices of young people living with HIV in Kenya and Malawi to enable them to practice self-care and fulfil their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs.
Sidaction and Aidsfonds are pleased to jointly launch a call for scientific proposals for the year 2026, aimed at accelerating advances in HIV cure research.
The aim of this call for proposals is to fund research projects exploring mechanisms or strategies that will contribute to achieving a cure or remission for HIV. Projects may investigate mechanisms to target the viral reservoir or enhance immune-driven control, the development of new therapeutic concepts, as well as research in the social sciences related to HIV cure or remission.
Through this call, we aim to support research that will ultimately lead to major biomedical breakthroughs, foster social acceptance of cure interventions, and promote an HIV cure accessible to the largest possible number of people living with HIV worldwide.
From Barrier to Bridge – How a Network is Building Bonds Between Police and Communities
From Barrier to Bridge – How a Network is Building Bonds Between Police and Communities
For the longest time, the absence of law enforcement at the table has been a critical missing piece in the jigsaw of HIV prevention and public health interventions. Whether through prejudice, lack of access to services, stigma and discrimination, public health outcomes are greatly affected by criminalisation. The lives of LGBTIQ+ people, sex workers and people who use drugs are disrupted daily through state sanctioned violence and criminalisation enacted by law enforcement. Recognising this gap, Aidsfonds, in close collaboration with its partners stepped in, bringing together communities, health service providers and law enforcement. Munya has been at the heart of this work, helping translate that collaboration into tangible change.