When I lost my husband at 40 in 1992, leaving me with 10 children, my world fell apart. It was only God’s grace that saw me through the challenges of raising my children and living with the stigma associated with HIV. So as time went on, I used every opportunity to raise awareness for HIV and use my voice/testimony on the international stage in America with BONO to advocate for ARVs for those who couldn’t afford it.
For a long time, I wanted to write my story as a way to console others going through similar challenges in a way that would live beyond me. The writing process was tough, I wound start, stop and start again. It made me relive the most painful memories and at some point I thought I’d give up but the will to share my story kept pushing me. In 2022, the holy spirit simply lifted me and I got renewed energy. I was able to finish my writing and self published, launching my book on my 70th birthday.
Agnes Nyamayarwo is a professionally trained nurse and HIV/AIDS Campaigner and Activist. She has been living positively with HIV for over 30 years and committed herself to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS using all means available to her, in Uganda and at an international level. She became the chairperson for the Mulago Positive Women’s Network in 2004, a position she held for several years. She also held various voluntary roles within The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) as a Clients Representative on the Client Council, the Advisory Committee and the TASO Board of Trustees. Agnes has used her tragic experience to make a difference through her volunteering and advocacy work. She joined the U2 lead singer, Bono, on the Heart of America tour to work together on advocacy campaigns to inform Americans about the urgent need for ARVs in Africa and other developing nations. She used her personal story on the international stage to battle the HIV/AIDS stigma and to help with the efforts to make ARV treatment more accessible. She shared her testimony before the US Congress in favour of President George Bush’s decision to implement the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Agnes is now retired and still passionate about HIV/AIDS issues. She splits her time
between Uganda and UK.
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