QUIZ

HIV Basics

If you have HIV, you are more likely

Malaria parasites
Has a girl or a boy
to get malaria. At the same time,
malaria will increase your viral load
ever made any sexual
(the amount of HIV in your body).
advances to you?
This stresses your immune system.
Your
HIV sexual fluids will also therefore
contain more HIV and you will be Tell us your honest story and
more infectious to others if you have win prizes. Write to Straight Talk
P.O.Box 22366 Kampala
unprotected sex. If you have HIV,
always sleep under a mosquito net and
ary 2 009
take daily Septrin. Septrin has anti-
14 N o . 2 Febru Choose to be

Don't worry
malarial qualities. Vo l.
happy:
• Accept who you are.

• Be thankful for what you have.

• Think about the good things that

you have: your life, body and being

p p y
in school. Many adolescents are not in

Be h a
Everyone wants to be happy school. Find something to be thankful
and be around joyous people. for.
• Use the little you have well.
Happiness is food to the spirit. Have
• Work hard to get what you do not
you ever thought about what brings
have. When you work hard, whatever
happiness to you? the result, you do not regret. But when
you do not put in enough effort, you
Straight Talk went to Hoima district blame yourself.
and teenagers talked about what
makes them happy. They also tell • Learn something new everyday.
us what makes them look great Expanding on what you know and
and how this can help them stay challenging yourself with new ideas brings
safe. Enjoy their stories. happiness.

"...I feel happy when I listen • Respect yourself and your body.
to sports programs and play • Do not steal or have sex to get things like
football." Dasiki Nyangireki, clothes, shoes.
Buseruka SS, Hoima
• Show love to other people. When you
"When I take all the meals I love, you also feel loved.
need, I feel happy. I am also
happy my parents are still • Take time off alone. Once in a while,
alive and advise me." Barongo think about your life and where you are
SP Amooti going.

"I feel happy when I perform • Do exercises and sports. These make your
well in class." Nankumba Amina brain active.
S4 Vac, 19, Premier SS
• Avoid alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.
"I feel good when I am
collecting firewood and • Find time to rest.
fetching water. It shows I'm
• Spend more time with your family and
hardworking." Tumuhaise friends.
Robert, 16, Buhanika Seed SS
• Laugh, laugh and laugh Laughter can
Are you happy? If you are not, cause happiness. Crack jokes, laugh with
you can change the way you friends and family.
feel.

I enjoy life in a safe

way. I have said no to
early sex and alcohol
Remember:
Sad things happen to everyone:
When I am relationships ending, poor performance
not in school or losing a loved one. Accept the
I look after situation. Be resilient. Resilience
cows. I am means that, whatever bad times you
Thinkaboutwhatmakesyouhappy. happy when go through, you always get over it and
they are bounce back to normal life.
Keep yourself happy by loving healthy.
yourself. Avoid behaviour that Godfrey
can harm your body and Mwine,
health. Stay safe in 2009. Kitara SS
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Looking nice, staying safe
Despite being in the village and having challenges like poverty and getting water, youths in
Hoima and Kiboga are looking and smelling nice. Here they tell us the secret of their smart-

Designer Kind parents, Fresh smell

clothes bad rats
I use bombo to keep fresh. I
squeeze it and put in my armpits.
I look good when I look nice when I pu Tusiime Sylvia, Buseruka
I ‘design’ (match) t on suits.
My aunt bought me
a pink
my favourite suit when I went to vis Bombo is a local plant that acts
it her in
clothes. I can put Kampala. I wanted to like a deodorant. There is also
go back
on a black skirt and home immediately an another useful plant, called Lweza.
d show
a white blouse. I it to my parents. But Pick the leaves, wash them and
when I
design them with wanted to put it on ag
ain, rats squeeze them. Rub them in your
black shoes, a had eaten it. I cried.
armpits or put the squeezed leaves
white and black in your bathing water. Do it daily
bangle and white My parents
bought me until the bad smell stops.
and black earrings
or necklace. another
suit. When Water from banana leaves used for
My parents buy cooking can also help. Bathe with
I put it on
my clothes. it or apply it to the armpits. Leave it
with party
Kusemererwa for some time and then wash with
shoes and
Shamusha, S2, clean water. If your parents have
cut hair, I
Duhaga SS feel smart. money, you can ask them to buy you
Asaba a deodorant. It costs about 2,500/=
Immaculate, S2, Bu
hanika
Seed SS, Hoima
Annet
Akiiki
stepped
out in Clean teeth: I feel nice when I am wearing
a pink I look nice when I brush my teeth
suit on and you can talk in public. Kisakye
ebbombo tracksuits. Mubarak Achilles, Arua
Christmas. Joseph, 17, S3, Kitaala SS, Hoima Public School, living in Buseruka

Live within your means seline, clothes

Each month in 2009 we will bring you the story of a girl, 19, who has been living
with HIV since birth. She stays with her aunt and studies in the evening. She
started on ARVs in 2007. Let's call her Jane. Jane loves Charles, who also loves
Never have sex to get Va
nt or need. her. 2008 was great for Jane. She got a job with an NGO. With her salary, she
or anything else you wa helped her aunt, brothers and sisters. She also bought hot clothes. But 2009 got
My parents make sure I have off to a bad start!
everything I need like knickers.

Dear diary,
They buy me pads. I also buy
powder, bangles and eye-brow
pencil from the 20,000/- they
give me each term. Tumuhaise
Irene Jovia, Mandela SS,
February was so bad. I d. had a
Hoima
fight with my boyfrien We nt
Jovia's parents can afford to almost separated. He we m inu s
,
away for several days . I was
buy her things. But what if your
parents cannot? That is when calling, minus anythingme back
you proudly get to work and earn so worried. Then he cabeer.
money for yourself. "I have a and had taken a lot of to one
small garden of sugarcane. I sell
Felt dizzy
Good enough he went she
of our counsellors and r he
...feel better
them and buy my clothes," says
cooled him down. Lateare now
now... Happy to
Atuhura Jackline, Bulera PTC be out of hospi-
tal. This is my
life..
apologised to me. We
"I buy clothes for myself. I get fine.
money by making and selling sn't
baskets," says Kyomuhendo Then I got pneumonia. Itmwa ala ria.
the first time. I also ha d
Claire, 16, Kitara SS, Hoima. 64 0 be fo re
My CD4 count was wn to
Be enterprising! You can earn I got sick, then it went do nce,
money in the village. Sex for 460. It was a terrible tchrie
ex pe
ing
Simon Barongo of Buhanika SS digs things are always negative. being on the ward, wa
to get money for basic needs. people die. But now I am ctors
Daily Weekly Monthly feeling better and the do sti ng
What you can do to Payment re
let me go home. I am Vs and
earn money and just taking my AR I have
antibiotics. That's why ry. My
Fetch water for people 50/- per jerry can
300/- 1500/- 6000/-
time to write in my dia I want
Sell pancakes 100/- for 4 pancakes 800/- 4000/- 16000/-
friends are coming over. e
Sell milk 200/- per cup 600/- 3000/- 12000/- to get back to work soon. I'v
l
Wash plates in the hote 500/- per day
500/- 2500/- 10000/- got a lot to do.
Discover your inner beauty • You will not easily be
:
advantage of. You wil taken
Do you look in the mirror like the jokes you crack. Maybe your are
and say "I hate my nose, kind, warm, outgoing. Discover yourself.
eyes, body shape?" Well, strong enough l be
that's normal! Everyone Ask family members
dislikes something about what they like about to say no if you
themselves. you. Ask friends
why they chose to
have to.
Next time you look, focus on
the little nice things. Check out
be your friend. Build
on your strong points,
• You will not
those dimples, nice eyes, long and improve your weak feel anyone
eyelashes, nails, or pretty smile. points. Ignore what that you doing you
By the way, many teenagers have
cannot change.
a favour by
good looks but are not happy.
Self-esteem loving you.
Everyone is beautiful. Beyond
is a life skill. • You will have peace
the physical looks, it could be
your heart, or behaviour, mind and work hard o f
at your

Happiness is climbng your ladder of success. Here are some winning ladders. You get
T-shirts! Straight Talkers, make sure you draw your own ladder and keep revising it.
Namalwa
Ritah, S4, vac
Kanyesigye Wafula L, Nabisunsa
P Abbo,
I, St. Paul's Benedictive Voc Girls' School
Dabani Girls'
Seminary, Training Centre,
SS, Busia
Kabale Tororo

Fight injustice, poverty

Enjoy my success and abuse of human rights Hence the success
and promote peace
Hard working
Build my community
Become a lawyer or presenter
Not rushing for on radio or television
sex or marriage Become a brick layer
Join university and
study law or mass
Asking for advice Join a technical school
Pass 'O' and 'A" levels
with distinctions Abstain from sex
Loving my
neighbours
Be in good terms Pass P7
with my teachers
In every aspect, I
consider God first Get home education
To stay in school always

New
Quiz Other ladder winners
How did you spend your holidays? are: Akungizibwe V and Tigaiza S,
Kisiki College, Namutumba; Kakuuma
Did you stay safe? Send your true stories to G, Kaliro HS; Muwereza J, Valley
POBox 22366 Kampala and get a prize. Hill SS, kaliro; Ebiwa J, Lumino HS,
Busia; Nyesiga M, Kahondo ST club;
Here is the story of Ahebwa Darlison, Bwikya SS Hoima. "I would go Angelite M, Mitandi SS, Fort Portal;
to the garden. When I returned home, I would prepare lunch and put Mugabe I Bukedi College, Mbale; Kato
cassava out to dry. I felt good when I sat with my grandmother. She P, St Adolf HS, Kyenjojo; Sandra ,
tells me parables and stories of long ago." Ahebwa also cleans her room and Irma Pfeiffer HS, Kisubi. YOU WIN
reads the Bible. If she visits or goes for club activities, she puts on her best as in STRAIGHT TALK DIARIES!
the picture 3
 sex may lead to pregnancy, which
Dear
brings body changes that may
include pimples. Also, having sex
when you are young and in school
M, Pajule SS, Kitgum
QUIZ
Pain on urination is abnormal.
There may be an infection in
your urethra (urine passage).
We Know that

STF
will cause stress. Usually the more
stress you have, the more pimples
too.
Why is it that if you have
P. O. Bo x 22 36 6 sex with your girlfriend several
K A M P A L A times, you loose interest in her?
Noah, Pallisa HS
My sexual feelings are This is common in youth who
higher during holidays have sex due to curiosity (desire to
than in school. Why? know). After finding out that sex
Kabuke D, Mutanywana is no big deal, they lose interest.
SS, Kasese Others re-think and realise that
Sexual feelings are natural they may not be ready for the
so you are normal. results of sex. This can also
See a doctor immediately
before this condition worsens
or causes more problems.
My mother is forcing me
to get married to a man
I do not know. Agnes, St.
Mary’s College, Kiboga
I am sorry that your mother
thinks of marrying you off
when you are still in school.
Let her know that you are
more likely to benefit her in
the long term if you finish
school. It is also not wise
Girls are as
intelligent as boys
So why are girls performing so
poorly? In 2008 half of all girls
either failed or got Div 4 on their
O level exam.
Send your true stories of what is
happening in your school to
PO Box 22366 Kampala.
Are girls not encouraged? Teased
when they answer wrongly?
Something is disturbing girls, and
ST wants to know what it is.

Write and
However, such kill the interest. Sadly, by to marry a man you do not
feelings are affected this time the girl may be know. How will you know his
by thoughts.
Thoughts about
emotionally engaged
and gets hurt. Delay sex
HIV status? What if he has
another family somewhere? win a cap or
exams, work or
school fees may
until you are mature to
handle it.
Help your mother to think
through all this. If she does diary
suppress sexual not listen, ask an older person
feelings. Holiday Is it true that if you who you trust, like an aunt/
thoughts about eat a lot of eggplant uncle or responsible woman
leisure, music, and have sex with an on the LC to talk to her.
romantic books infected person you
or movies can can not get HIV? My boyfriend does not
excite your sexual Balikowa J, Masaba want to have sex with
feelings. You have College, Busia a condom. I love him so
a lot of time for It is not true that much. Should I do it live?
yourself during eating eggplants will MA, Muni Girls SS, Arua
holidays. Do prevent HIV infection. No, dear M.A. don’t “do it
physical things Do not believe The truth is that HIV live”. If you do it live, you
like games or work. in myths about sex. is transmitted when will probably get pregnant
Join a church or a Nabirye M, 16, S3, someone has sex with within the first month and
Bikonte Seed SS,
Straight Talk club. Busembatia
an infected person, also possibly have to live with
whether they have HIV and other STDs. For girls
eaten eggplant or like you who are lucky to be
Pimples and sex any other vegetables. in school, abstinence is the
Is it true that
There is no food best. You say you love your
if you have pimples
that prevents HIV. boyfriend. The best way to
you should have sex?
protect him and yourself, if
Namugenyi H, Kabaale
I feel a lot of you love him and cannot stop
Sanje SS, Rakai
pain when yourself from having sex, is
It is not true. In fact, having
I urinate. to use a condom. Condoms
sex will instead make
Labongo prevent HIV transmission if
pimples come! Why? Because
you use them properly every
time.

Care for your penis

Good hygiene is part of your nice tissues, skin oils, moisture and
Dr Edith Nakku, Mulago
STD Clinic, Kampala

look package. This time we look at bacteria.

Advise
cleaning your penis. Since bacteria live in any
• If the fore-skin on your penis small place that has plenty of

cannot be pulled back, wash
only the outer part thoroughly
with soap and water.
Do not force the skin backwards
as it happens naturally for
different boys of different ages.
Forcing the foreskin backwards
will cause injury of the penis.
• If the foreskin of your penis can
be pulled back, pull it as far as
it can go. Wash the
glands and the inside
of the foreskin gently
but thoroughly with
clean water.
The space between
the glands and the
foreskin is where
a white substance
known as smegma is
formed.
Smegma is a mixture
of dead cells shed by Dr Edith Nakku
moisture, wash away all smegma
from under the foreskin. If you
let bacteria and dead tissue cells
accumulate, your penis will
smell. You will also be at the risk
of getting:
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Scabies
Signs of penile
infection:
• Pimple like structu-
res around the penis
• Smelly penis
• Itching
• Discomfort and
pain.
If you have such
symptoms, it may
mean you have an
infection. You need
to go to hospital for
proper check-up.
Tereza!
I have a boy lover who cheats
on me so much. Yet I put all my
mind and love on him. Should I
also cheat on him or chuck him?
I am confused, help me. Tereza,
Benedictive Vocational Training
Centre, Tororo.
Send your advice to PO Box
22366, Kampala.
Win a
Doreen Muhumune, 19, STF’s new
Runyankole-Rukiga radio journalist,
Straight
models the cap! Listen for this law
student on Tusheshuure.
Talk cap.
Straight Talk FOUNDATION
Plot 4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 0312-262030/1 Kampala (U),
E-mail: strtalk@straight-talk.or.ug, Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug, Executive Director: C. Watson,
Director of Print T. Agutu, Editorial Manager: E. Kimuli, Editors: M. Akello, J. Abongowath, D. Agaba,
Photo Editor: G. Awekofua, Writer: E. Mirembe Chief Designer: M.eB Kalanzi, Designers: G.B Mukasa,
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