Young people need to be in charge of their own health. To ensure that this happens, “listen to our opinions, give us a voice, and also provide us with those spaces so that we will be able to advocate for our own issues because we are the experts of our own lives”, states Merci Niyibeshaho of Y+ Kenya. Watch her compelling message in the video below!
“Young people are faced with most health challenges in sexual and reproductive health services, new HIV infections, and mental health”
“Currently, young people are the ones faced with the most health challenges that we have right now globally. That is in terms of sexual and reproductive health services, increasing new HIV infections, and even mental health. This is why it is important that young people take responsibilities of their own health and lives to ensure that we are accountable for our own health, we are responsible and we own it in general. Also it is important to ensure that we take lead because we are the ones to know the challenges we are facing, where the problem is and even the solution to these challenges, because we are the experts of our own lives. To ensure that this happens, listen to our opinions, give us a voice, and also provide us with those spaces so that we will be able to advocate for our own issues because we are the experts of our own lives.”
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.
Aidsfonds Closes its Emergency Fund for HIV Response
Aidsfonds Closes its Emergency Fund for HIV Response
In response to the 90-day freeze of USAID and PEPFAR funding, Aidsfonds launched the Emergency Fund for the HIV Response on the 14th of February. This fund provided current and previous Aidsfonds and the Robert Carr Fund partners with funding to bridge the 90 day-pause and contribute to the continuation of lifesaving services. The overwhelming number of applications we received in the first days highlighted the urgent need for this support. On the 27th of February, the situation took a drastic turn when the U.S. Government decided to terminate nearly all contracts with USAID and PEPFAR funded organisations. This decision is devastating for the HIV response and changes the situation from starting as a short-term emergency to evolving into a long-term humanitarian crisis.
Sidaction and Aidsfonds are pleased to jointly launch a 2 million euros call for scientific proposals for the year 2025, dedicated to accelerating advances in HIV cure research. This initiative aims to mobilise researchers from France, the Netherlands and African countries around this crucial issue for global health.