A disclaimer: I am not so young anymore. However, I go through these streets as the people’s favourite aunty, the coolest prevention activist, young people say I am “oppit”, or in more traditional lingo, “with it”. As February, the legit month of love, has come to an end, I’m reflecting on love, relationships, sex and…
The power of self
There is still such stigma around young women going to get tested for HIV. It’s almost implied that you shouldn’t get tested, and not that you shouldn’t be having unprotected sex. Luckily, there are new options. Supermarkets and pharmacies are increasingly stocking home HIV tests that you can buy and use in your own space…
I choose to be alive
In October, most students are preparing for exams in South Africa but here I was contemplating suicide. I walked into the clinic with my friend as we always do when we go for our quarterly check-ups and I walked out a different person. My life was shattered when the friendly doctor told me I was…
My expectations for the #AIDS 2018 Conference
I am a young African woman who strongly believes that a world where young women and girls have control over their sexual health is possible. I have quite a lot of expectations for the upcoming International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) in Amsterdam. These conferences are for me always a good time to reconnect with amazing…
The dark evening in August I will never forget…
My throat is swollen, swallowing anything, including saliva, was a painful task. I reported to work as usual that morning, very moody and waiting for the late afternoon when I would walk to the private health facility to tell the doctor I had been visiting on and off for the last six months that once…