Blog: Historical AIDS 2012 for African youth

The 2012 International AIDS Conference that kicked off on Sunday evening in Washington made history this year. It is the first time the event is being held in the United States, particularly notable since in 2009 President Barack Obama overturned a 22-year-old travel and immigration ban to the US against people with HIV.

By Humphrey Nabimanya, Washington, D.C.

Participating myself for the first time at an International AIDS Conference (IAC), I can’t hide my excitement. I am looking so much forward to all the events that would make this meeting different from all the other conferences I attended in the past.
In her keynote speech, young and HIV-positive Anna Sago yearned for more support to be given to young Africans living with HIV. She asked to put an end to their discrimination and stigmatization. She also pleaded for easy access to health services.

But the most inspiring workshop I attended before the official opening was about the youth leadership and the role of HIV prevention. It made me realize that young people from all over the world share beliefs about how to handle the issue. What was very interesting is to see that they act differently from their elders.
We are more passionate and driven in what we do because we have different life experiences. I am amazed by the amount of work the young people sitting on those workshop panels have achieved in their respective countries.

For example, I was inspired by Jonas, the Mexican AIDS activist. He brings young people who are HIV-positive together and gets them to become peer educators in Mexico. I learnt a lot from him, especially the way in which he creates awareness about the issue. I want to integrate some of his methods in my own organization Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU).

We are talking about a serious subject here. But I still want to conclude on a fun note – which also says a lot about the Ugandan state of affairs when it comes to homosexuality and HIV/AIDS. The official opening of the IAC started with a choir composed of gay men. It was unbelievable. But I could not refrain myself from asking my neighbour: “Will this ever happen in Uganda?” She laughed and said “It will happen only if Obama leads Uganda. Let’s wait and see!”