World AIDS DAY, 2022, EQUALIZE!

Early last Sunday morning, out to catch the crispy, fresh, Nalubaale breeze and connect with my daughters during our family healthy living and well-being session, we came across five police officers clad in their uniforms and armed. They were on an operation with their truck imposingly labeled “999” at a road junction. If it were the Idi Amin Dada VSO MC CBE days (which I grew up under), we would have turned round and taken to our heels faster than lightning. But, given the times we live in, this thought did not occur to my daughters Joy and the future Dr. Faridah Lunkusse from my village Jjumbi, Mpenja, Gomba District. We continued chatting cheerfully and walking until we reached the spot!

“Officers, is anything wrong?” I quipped. “No. All is well, Madame” I was not to be deterred since it is not every day those police patrol cars park along that road. “Then why are you here?” I blurted out. “Madame, we are here to ensure law and order and secure this place .”I was not yet done. I insisted, “Who is the VIP in this neighborhood you are guarding?” They laughed and responded, “Madame, you are the VIP.” It felt good to be honored as a VIP first thing in the morning. The police officers had spent a good part of the night watching over me and other VIPS (they were not ready to disclose, as the security experts they are!) in my neighborhood as we enjoyed our sweet slumber!

I gave them a quick health talk and offered that they invite me to the Police World AIDS Day (WAD) commemoration if there is any such thing. “When is the World AIDS Day?” one of them asked. I gave more details. Clearly, the WAD was not yet on the security radar! Three days later, I am still waiting. The invite is yet to arrive!

As we reflect on many things, this World AIDS Day, it is essential to reach out and remind our communities and our law enforcement forces as they guard our lives (and am not oblivious of those that are a scandal, and these should not cause me to label the whole lot as villains because guess what? With the one finger I point at someone, four are pointing back at me) that HIV is still with us, and we need to shoot and EQUALIZE!

The WAD theme this year is “Equalize.”

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The Ministry of health in Uganda chose to speak to Uganda's future leaders and spotlighted the adolescents and young people under the theme:

“Ending inequalities among adolescent girls, young women and boys (MoH, Pre- WAD, Youth Congress 2022) ≠Together4YoungPeople

It has been three decades for me of engagement as part of the frontline forces in the fight against HIV & AIDS. Unfortunately, we have lost many to the battle. It is no longer acceptable, given the knowledge about prevention, science, care, and treatment. Indeed, great strides to meet the 95-95-95 targets have been made and can be strengthened further if we take action and follow available guidance.

The challenge, however, is ensuring that prevention is sustained, and individuals acknowledge that prevention starts with me as we turn off the tap of new infections. Lessons from the fight against HIV&AIDS need to be taken to scale for other diseases and ill health. We should continue sharing the lessons with the young generation who did not see what HIV did to us in the 1980s. Like my daughters Joy and future Dr. Faridah were oblivious of any danger posed by meeting armed officers we met Sunday morning, many young people are clueless about the risk at hand with HIV and AIDS and other illnesses. Prevention is better than cure. It is unacceptable to continue with business as usual and accept the status quo of having 75% of Africa’s disease burden characterized by preventable disease. Let us all step up the fight not only against HIV & AIDS but against all forms of ill health and turn off the tap. Prevention starts with me.

On Sunday morning I did my job by the Police officers I met in my neighborhood. I continue to do what I can in my village Jjumbi, Mpenja Gomba district. I am also doing what I can at my workplace at PATH in Africa. I also continue to make my voice heard at the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board, passing on views from the frontline.

On Monday morning, the Ministry of Health, Uganda AIDS Commission, Sheikhs and Reverends, PEPFAR, UNFPA, Mildmay, TASO, Baylor Uganda amongst so many others showcased what they are doing by the young people and tomorrow’s leaders, in Uganda. My socks were blown off as I witnessed the 2nd Pre-WAD Congress led by the Youth with 75% of the participants as Youth and young people asking us to pass the mike. The mike has been passed to them. They are Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and committing to stay SAFE. They are confident and up to the task ahead.?Across Africa, the voices of AGYW ring out, Valerie’s in Mbitha, Homabay, Kenya amongst so many others. “I am unstoppable and I will always remain that.” Go Valerie, go for your Dream!

As I commemorate with all the colleagues, I have had the honor to serve alongside with in the struggle, my mentors; the young people then who are the leaders now, this year is special. I am grateful to God that after 3 decades I get to see that the sleepless nights and hard work rolling out the TASO ART programme; the Sustainable Livelihoods programme; the OVC program scale up; the innumerable community engagements by the ACWs and the international engagements; the Psychosocial support work; research studies like PrEP and the Models of ART delivery with Community Drug Distribution points amongst others; SRH/HIV/GBV integration with UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA; the years of deliberation at the PEPFAR SAB setting up DREAMS and so much more have not been in vain. Finally, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. A professional life dream has come full circle, the dream is now coming to pass as I see Valerie the future lawyer and Faridah the future Doctor get to speak out and stand out!

As we work alongside the youth in the driver’s seat for the last mile with HIV and Equalize, let us draw lessons and plough them into the rest of the fight for health. Let us push the agenda for universal Health coverage; let us prioritize disease prevention in Africa and make it everyone’s responsibility, starting with ME!

Share your story of how you are stemming the tide of ill health in Africa and spreading the gospel of prevention, to EQUALIZE and close the taps.