“I am happy that I have tested for HIV and now I know my health status. In fact, I have been for so long hesitating to go to my nearby health facility and test for HIV in fear of death followed hearsays from my peers. They use to say testing for HIV is like digging up your own grave, horror, agony, fear and uncertainties of one’s livelihoods and future plans. If you are HIV positive, everything diminishes. To be honest, this project is the beginning of my new phase of life styles especially in sexual relationships, for example, forcing my sexual partner to use a condom in my case was option and not important, so it depended wholly on decision by the man I slept with at that particular moment, they are many. But thank God, I have been found HIV negative and I totally never ever expect to run sexually unprotected, condom is my weapon and eye screening has nowhere to stay under my way” said one young lady with only permission to use her image not name as seen here beneath.

“I am a 32-year-old man. I am married and have two beautiful, amazing children aged 3 and 1. I having living at this Nyamalapa street for 12 years and work as a bodaboda. My wife is also a hotel assistant worker – we work at the same street! I have been too reluctant to get HIV testing because I used to have sex with different girls without even using condoms, situation that led me not to be sure with my health status. I sometimes sought that testing for HIV is putting yourself into high unmanageable stresses and could cause emotional suffering especially when I will be found with HIV infections, I further sought of my wife and children how they will be perceiving me as a cheater (betrayer). Meeting YAWE has totally changed my life as they educated me on HIV/AIDS and importance of HIV testing. I eventually became very confident and make an appointment for HIV testing. Today, my wife, children and I have tested HIV and found all HIV negative. I thank God and I promise to be a good ambassador to my fellow bodaboda drivers, change my behaviour and continue to be faithful to my lovely wife” Life is so much better for me now, I wish I had of been able to test HIV earlier and hate that I spent a lot of that time really, really unwilling to test. I’m so grateful that it is behind me now….this is the first time I’ve felt like telling my story – it feels good”. Said Ally Juma from Nyamalapa Street-Bariadi town council