We should push harder for the young girls

Portrait of Beryl Auma Abade
Last updated on: 13 March 2024

Beryl Auma Abade is an advocate with a mission: fast approval and roll out of the Dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention in Kenya. We spoke with her about what is needed for accelerated implementation, and about the importance of this new HIV prevention option for adolescent and young women. Meet Beryl!

 

“It is important for young girls to have access for the dapivirine ring simply because back in Kenya, young girls, our HIV prevalence is getting higher and higher each and every day. Young women like me, I think we are the next generation so it is important for us to take lead and take part in advocating for the ring.

So in Kenya, girls who are between age 15 to 24 their HIV prevalence is becoming high so meaning there is something we should push harder for the young girls and them seeing me advocating for the ring, I think they will take me as their role model because I think we are fighting for the next generation and I think we are the next generation, yes.

I call upon the government of Kenya to make the dapivirine ring available. We are not going to stop advocating for it to be available and accessible to all the young women and make the next generation HIV free.”