Remember the HIV basics

• You can look

Sexual harrassment
and feel fine for If someone will not take your
years with HIV in "No" for an answer, do not
your body. Only
an HIV test will
bother to argue. Just turn and
show if you have walk away.
the virus.

• After 5 to 8
years, your body
loses its ability
to fight sickness.
The virus has
destroyed too
many CD4 cells. Yes, HIV can be
confusing!
008
• Young people
o. 10 October 2
who got HIV at Vol. 15 N

Safe transitionn
birth are now
teenagers with
normal sexual
feelings. So sex
with a "virgin"
will not protect
you from HIV.

A
s soon as I joined
S1, I started
‘conning’ girls by for e v e r y t e e n
writing them letters.
7 to S1 ; O -l ev el to A-level; S6
I never missed any dance From... P hool to new
organized at school. I did all to Campus; Old sc camp to
this because I quickly gained school; From IDP ried to
the favour of students with
home; From unmar
her
married; Or any ot
whom we shared interests.
Peer pressure was too
much on me. direction...
But I realized I was losing
out. I got saved. My spirit Ojakol Simon Peter
grew stronger. I stopped and his girlfriend are saved.
messing up. I want to do You ask him why he has a
something vocational like girlfriend yet he is saved, he
brickmaking as well as quickly answers: “When you
preaching in my S4 vacation. are saved, the hormones are
My goal is to be a preacher not saved”. Get his full transition
or pharmacist. I need to inspire story on page two.
young people to change their lives
with the Word of God”. So, you might ask...
Tendo Sidney, 16, in S4 at Ojakol Simon what is transition?
Genesis SS, Luwero concludes his Peter A transition is the process or period of
story with a bubbly smiling face. He is not changing from one condition or environment
shy to share his challenge as he went through to another. It may be from one school to
transition from primary to secondary. Yes, he another or one level of education to another. As
was growing up, changing school environment, we go through life we make many transitions.
meeting new friends, and probably
gaining a lot of freedom. Transitions are risky times for HIV. The environment
is new. You are off balance, not on familiar territory.
Alice Nabbosa had
many fears and expectations
as she waited to join S1
Be extra vigilant!
at Mulusa Academy. "I • Girls, watch out for big boys wanting to use you.
expected to find new It happens.
teachers, new students and • Girls and boys, watch out for your own sexual
new dressing styles. But I feelings. A new environment can be intoxicating!
feared getting a boyfriend. • Take your time in deciding what groups you
I never wanted to get want to join.Wait, watch, assess the situation, do
pregnant. I have held onto my not rush in to anything.
values. I avoid boys and prefer • Do not try to be impressive. Take it easy and be
Alice to abstain from sex." the winner in the end.
Nabbosa So far her transition has been safe!

15 years of Straight Talk!

Luweero man, Tendo Sidney.
His transition from P7 to
secondary landed him in
problems. Be careful when
you go to a new school. It is
a time of exploration when
you can easily get confused.
T
he first Straight Talk came out on 19 October 1993, exactly 15 years ago
this month! That old newspaper might look funny to you but we were proud
of it! Those were the days before internet and mobile phones. It was even a big
deal to write about sex! In 1993, 33% girls aged 15-19 were tesing positive for
HIV at AIDS Information Centre. Now the figure is 1.8% for girls aged 13-17 and
6.1% for girls aged -- still too high but much better. It has been a priviledge to
work with you, young people. Most of you are postponing sex until you are older.
You understand your body changes and sexual feelings. You are smart about
condoms. Keep it up! Straight Talk is with you and on your bumper at all times.
With love from all of us, the ST team.
4 Straight Talk, October 2008
Greenhill SS ST Club, Masaka say;

Dear
“Virginity is divine”. It is their motto.

SyfaP.
M
Bo x 22 36
POO.Bo x P22A36
L
6
A
6
KK AA M P A L A

HIV rumors
My brother died of AIDS, and
some people say that I also
have the virus. Should I test?
Oliver, 14, S1, Kizza Memorial
Vocational SS, Masaka
Yes. If what people say is bothering
you, test for HIV test to clear up
your worries. Oliver, no one should HIV positive and worried Sponsor wants to with strong odors need to bathe
test you using their eyes. Losing I am HIV positive and worried abuse me regularly and use deodorant.
your brother to AIDS does not that if I continue with studies, My parents died. From P6 I got a Remember, you are in adolescence
mean you have HIV. I will be wasting my time. LJ, sponsor. I am now in S1 but he and there are a lot of hormones in
Pajule SS, Pader is asking for sex with me. I fear action. Do you always smell nice,
Why is it that when a boy and You can live a meaningful life with HIV and pregnancy. He says if I Lenard?
girl have been deeply in love HIV. Stay in school for as long as tell anybody he will kill me. KF,
and after having sex you can. Get a counselor to help 16, King Jesus College, Mubuku I have been in love for three
once they separate? you cope, join a young positives That is terrible. Stand firm and tell years. My girlfriend wants to
Lowao F, 19, S4, group and take daily septrin to your sponsor that you appreciate have oral sex, saying it is the
Moroto HS help you keep your immunity his help towards your studies but only way to avoid STDs. MJ,
Love and sex are not strong. Many people with HIV you can’t have sex with him. This Quiver Self Help SS, Arua.
the same. Separating have academic success. Do man is almost a father to you! If MJ, oral sex is not safe. It is very
after having sex could not lose hope. Be open with he threatens you again, report him possible to get STDs such as
show that there was potential sexual partners. to police, LC authorities and your gonnorhoea in the throat. Besides
little love to begin headteacher. He will not hurt you. that, are you comfortable with it?
with. True love can Answers by I am a girl of 20 and have We think that if you were happy,
usually get over the Stella Magomu never menstruated. Am What makes girls smell after you would not have written a letter
embarrassment of Counsellor, Hope I normal? Viola, S5, sweating for a short time? to ST. Tell her “No”.
sex that might have After Rape, Kitswambu SDA SS, Kasese Wafula L, 20, Benediction
been rushed and Kampala Sorry, Viola, not menstruating VT&PC, Tororo Do you have anything
uncomfortable. When at 20 is a sign that something is Lenard, thank you for your bothering you? Please write
two people are not ready wrong. Go see a doctor for proper concern, but not all girls smell. to Straight Talk Foundation, P.O.
for sex, after sex they may feel shy medical examination. It can be And some boys also smell. Those Box 22366 Kampala
and not want to meet again. resolved.

a T shir t!
Boys, know your body: testicles Help ABC and WIN
m, locking her outside
ABC’s stepdad is harassin
g his mu
ad
C tries to help Mum, Stepd
for two days. When AB
T
Testicles, also called testes or normally feel. If you feel any pain, abnormal s...
his school fee
gonads, are two small oval-shaped lumps or swellings then see a doctor. These threatens to stop paying
od. If
organs that hang below the penis in a pouch ad when he is in good mo
can be a sign of cancer or of an STD, which ABC, talk with your stepd diz an a, 16,
of skin called the scrotum. From the start counselor. J Nkun
can destroy your ability to produce sperm. he responds poorly, get a
of puberty, the cells lining the collecting , K’la
The best time to feel your testes is after bath- Ahmadiyya Muslim HS
tubules of He pays
ther but yours loves you.
the testicles ing. Use your It is not easy with a stepfa wh ich
finger and to stay with your mum,
produce your fees and allows you s tog eth er for
thumb to t to bring the partie
sperm. ver y few do. Try your bes tra l. An gu zu
t take sides, be neu
Testicles also gently feel peace building and do no Cr oss , Ar ua
anda Red
produce the the testes M, Chair, youth desk, Ug
!
P.O Box 22366, Kampala
hormone and nearby
testosterone, structures. Send more answers to
the main
cause of Blue When I work I feel pain in my waist. My
development balls: what grandfather says it is because I spend
of male are they? This many days without sex. Bwambale
features such as deep voice, is a slang that refers to painful testicles B, Busigha ST Club, Bundibugyo
beard growth and the ability to after a prolonged erection without
have an erection. ejaculation. Your grandfather is doing his
best but he is not scientifically
It is normal for one testes to be When you are sexually aroused, blood informed. Lack of sex does
slightly bigger than the other, flows into your penis and swells the not cause pain. Semen cannot
and for one to hang slightly area around it, including the testicles. accumulate and cause pressure. It
lower than the other. After the erection, muscles relax and comes out in wet dreams or your body
you could feel pain but not always. The best thing re-absorbs it. Without intending to, your
Boys, take care of your The pain will go in about 30 minutes. is to abstain. If grandfather is pushing you to have sex.
testicles. Do not wear tight You do not need sex to make the pain not, use condom With who? Do you have a wife? Is your
pants. Your testicles need to go. Do not tell the girl: “look what you carefully and girlfriend over 18? Sex can put your life
be cool for sperm production. have done to me. Now we need to be faithful. J into many serious complications. You
Also, learn how your testes have sex!”. You will be fine without sex. Nakalyana, are a healthy young male with a normal
Mengo SS sex drive. Relax and stay safe.

Publisher: Straight Talk FOUNDATION Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030/1, 0414530088 Kampala (U) Fax: 0414-534858, E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug
Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug; Executive Director: Cathy Watson, Director Communications: Teopista Agutu, Director Programs: Susan Ajok, Editorial Manager: Edith Kimuli,
Editors: Gilbert Awekofua, Martha Akello, Jackie Abongowath, Deo Agaba, Chief Designer: Michael eB. Kalanzi, Designers: Gb Mukasa, Allan B. Dentine, Funded by DANIDA, DFiD, SIDA