Asina's story
Asina's story
Asina is healthy entrepreneur in Uganda. She moves around in her community to sell over-the-counter health products and to provide quality SRHR and HIV information. This way Asina benefits from sustainable income and increased self esteem, reducing her vulnerability to HIV. Her community has access to reliable health products, information and basic services such as HIV self testing and injectable contraceptives.
Asina is one of the 960 peer educators trained under the Get Up Speak Out Flexi programme.
A photo story
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Portrait of Assinah, 24 years of age, a Healthy Enterpreneur in Uganda
On most mornings, Asina wakes up early morning to go to the garden with her mother after which she helps with home chores, relaxes at home and then head out to the villages to sell her medication
Most times, Asina walks long distances to her clients and sometimes walks back home especially when she doesnt make a sale. When she earns some money, she takes a motorbike back home from visting her clients
Abraham (15) follows Asina for some private questions after an educative session. It is providing information to young people that Assinah finds rewarding - "to help them understand that it's their responsibility to make better informed health choices
A client's purchase from Asina
Asina packs her bag up with the items to take to her clients who have ordered for some items. In the villages, the most selling items are the nutritous porridge, antibiotics and family planning methods
Asina administers the Sayana Press injection to Joyce, one of her good clients in her village
Farakani (30) packs the condoms in a black bag to take with him. The youths are shy to get condoms in public because they feel they'll be judged by the community. "We use the condoms, no problem, but we get them in secret"
Asina hangs out with her friend Lilian (21). "I am glad I could inquire about sexual reproductive health issues from a friend I can trust." Lillian says of her friend
Asina managed to save some money from the Healthy Enterpreneurship and bought two goats. Pictured is her mom bringing them home from the grazing area in the evening
Asina educates youths in her community on sexually transmitted diseases. Many youths do not have access to such information. Whe she teaches them, she tries to make it fun and educative at the same time
Lukia is proud of her daughter. "I even take medication from her some times especially for headaches and backpain." She wishes her daughter could get more support and training to be in position to better serve the community
Portrait of Assinah, 24 years of age, a Healthy Enterpreneur in Uganda
On most mornings, Asina wakes up early morning to go to the garden with her mother after which she helps with home chores, relaxes at home and then head out to the villages to sell her medication
Most times, Asina walks long distances to her clients and sometimes walks back home especially when she doesnt make a sale. When she earns some money, she takes a motorbike back home from visting her clients
Abraham (15) follows Asina for some private questions after an educative session. It is providing information to young people that Assinah finds rewarding - "to help them understand that it's their responsibility to make better informed health choices
A client's purchase from Asina
Asina packs her bag up with the items to take to her clients who have ordered for some items. In the villages, the most selling items are the nutritous porridge, antibiotics and family planning methods
Asina administers the Sayana Press injection to Joyce, one of her good clients in her village
Farakani (30) packs the condoms in a black bag to take with him. The youths are shy to get condoms in public because they feel they'll be judged by the community. "We use the condoms, no problem, but we get them in secret"
Asina hangs out with her friend Lilian (21). "I am glad I could inquire about sexual reproductive health issues from a friend I can trust." Lillian says of her friend
Asina managed to save some money from the Healthy Enterpreneurship and bought two goats. Pictured is her mom bringing them home from the grazing area in the evening
Asina educates youths in her community on sexually transmitted diseases. Many youths do not have access to such information. Whe she teaches them, she tries to make it fun and educative at the same time
Lukia is proud of her daughter. "I even take medication from her some times especially for headaches and backpain." She wishes her daughter could get more support and training to be in position to better serve the community
Photography by Esther Mbazazi for Rutgers
Learn more about GUSO Flexi
GUSO Flexi implements an innovative business model (Healthy Entrepreneurs) in three districts in Uganda. In total 750 GUSO peer educators are trained to become community health entrepreneurs. They reach out to the youth and other members of their community with integrated SRHR and HIV information on their tablet and by selling SRHR and health products and medicine, and adequate referrals to youth friendly services.