Jackie Kemigisha, an HIV-positive youth advocate from Uganda, dedicates her life to empowering those affected by HIV/Aids.

Published by our top partner, allafrica

After she learned of her HIV-postive status, Kemigisha sought help from the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda's capital, Kampala. Through the institute and the Accordia Global Health Foundation, Kemigisha has become a key voice for youths affected by HIV/Aids. She recently visited three cities in the United States to speak about her experience. AllAfrica's Ellie Schneidman spoke with Kemigisha when she was in Washington, DC. The interview and Kemigisha's introduction to a speaking event in Washington was edited into a narrative about her life and work.

In the United States I don't know if people are sufficiently educated about HIV/Aids. I want to find that out. In Uganda, we are trying our best; however, we still have no space, though we've been fighting for that space and I think we're about to achieve it because we are directing funding to the young people. [Young people] are starting to hear our voices. We need to have leadership among young people so that we can direct them to make the right decisions.

A leader
I've learned a lot about myself through doing this advocacy. First of all, I am a leader. I never knew I was a leader. Finding out I am a leader has helped me a lot to be responsible for myself and for the people around me because I don't do things recklessly. If [people] see me doing certain things they will say, 'Jackie, you are doing this?!'

I am always cautious. Another thing is I am very aware of how people will look at me. I always make sure that I protect my dignity and my image. It has helped me to reduce the pain that I grew up in.
The pain comes from living with such hatred from my mother. She hates me with all of her heart and never wants to see me. [When I was younger] I was sent to live with my father. Nobody had time for me. I never had anyone to talk to, so I ended up in the wrong hands and was raped. That's where I picked up HIV and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), but the STDs were treated.

It wasn't until I was very sick with meningitis and in the hospital for a month was I tested for HIV. I didn't want to get tested because I feared it. I had seen my sister die of HIV and it was terrible. I waited a long time to go to the hospital for my meningitis - I couldn't even walk - but God was still on my side because by the time I was able to reach the hospital, the medicine still had a chance to work. When I got home from the hospital and my entire family knew I had HIV they didn't want to see me anymore. My father saw to it that he would never pay my school fees again. I knew that was the end of me. That's when I decided to run away. I lived on the streets. There I was raped for a second time.

Talk about it
Whatever pain I went through I would write it down - that is the only communication I would have regarding my feelings. Since I've gotten this advocacy opportunity I've learned many things. The more I talk about my story, the less the pain will overcome me. Of course it is hard to reduce the pain of my past. I was never able to talk about my past. I could not talk about my experience. Some ladies [counselors] made me talk about it and said if I need to cry even for an hour until I finished the story then I should go ahead and cry. I have made such progress that now I can tell the story in a short time.

Most health centers also offer counseling and its one of the best ways to cope with HIV/Aids. We need to be responsible for what is happening to us. By taking responsibility for yourself, you can avoid risky behaviors such as drugs and alcohol, lessening your risk for rape. It's important for people to know to care for themselves.