Speeches Shim
Rita is a teenage girl in southwest Uganda who has been living with HIV since birth. Both her parents died from AIDS-related illnesses. But with the support of her grandmother, Rita has adhered well to her prescribed antiretroviral (ARV) medication, which treats HIV. She was thriving—until a terrible cough started.
By the end of his O levels, the first stage of high school, Richard knew he had what it takes to start and succeed in business. He talked to his family and got start-up capital for a boutique, stocking modern and new clothes for young people. His eye for style is undeniable and Richard soon had a thriving business.
“If you don’t come soon, you may never see me and the baby alive again!” That is all Nyakato could say over the neighbor’s cellphone to her older sister Beatrice. Nyakato and her two-year-old daughter, Ahabwe, were in the grip of a debilitating illness that was causing both to waste away. Ahabwe was so weak that she could hardly hold her head up.
The day opens bright and sunny in Rwamwanja in Western Uganda. Hundreds of people are arriving in the vast field decked by tents and display tables, many by bus, some by foot. Laughter and joyous talk fill the air, as people wearing their Sunday best make their way to the agricultural road show, a first-of-its-kind in this remote region.
In Uganda, religion has a role in all aspects of people’s lives. More than 84 percent of the population is Christian; the remaining 14 percent identify as Muslim. Ugandan faith leaders are highly respected and trusted by their congregations and communities and are well-posed to change harmful attitudes and social norms. In a country with a birthrate of close to 5.6 births per woman, one of the highest in the world, these leaders are often key to raising awareness of and advocating for family planning.
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