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Young Talk, October 2010

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HIV Basic:

her Avoid getting ot types of HIV t because

ing tha t You could be think not dy have HIV, you do is you alrea ct yourself. This need to prote ed protection. not true. You still ne Paediatof K Dr Sabrina Kitaka es Clinic us tiou Diseas ric Infec not lag says if you do (PIDC), Mul o , you will get more protect yourself gonorrhea or a STDs like syphillis, get other nancy. You can also preg types. HIV. HIV has many e types of ve more than on When you ha akens very fast b type, your body we s) may not d the medicine (ARV o develop and may als work on you. You fa AIDS very fast.

Pupils of Kitgum Public PS say rights and responsibilities go together

Rights and Responsibilities


Your
D
o you know your rights? Rights include basic needs, like food, clothes, education, medical care etc. Responsibilities are your duties or what you are supposed to do. For example you have the responsibility to bath and be clean, work hard at school and do work at home. When you have your rights and take on your responsibilities, you: z Grow and develop well. z Have a better life z Be a happier person. Having rights does not mean being bad mannered or indisciplined. Sulaiman Kyambadde,13, P.6, Lugazi PS, Buikwe says: Some children are given

too much freedom by their parents. This has spoiled them. A child cannot do anything at home because of rights. When they are told to do something, they tell you that they have a right to play.

Ketty Nandi, Regional Children and family protection officer, Kampala Metropolitan Police says, Much as you have rights, you also have a responsibility to do good things and listen to your parents and guardians. If it is the right to play, dont forget to do work and study. Namuwonge Joyce, 13, P7, St Paul PS, Kiboga: I have a right to education, food, sleep in a clean house and protection from defilement and being sacrificed. I also have the responsibility to be obedient, to do work like cleaning the compound; the house, washing plates and not coming back home late.

SCIENCE CORNER
STDs stand for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. These infections are spread through having un protected sex with an infected person. You cannot know that a person has an STD just by looking at them. Both boys and girls can get STDs.

Having the right to play without a duty to work is wrong!

Signs of STDs:
Small wounds on private parts, z itchiness, z Bad smelly discharge which is like pus, z Pain when passing urine. Girls and boys who have STDs may not produce children in future. STDs damage reproductive parts. The germs which cause STDs live in body fluids like semen, vaginal fluids and blood. Gonorrhea, syphilis, genital warts and HIV are examples of STDs. Stay safe, say NO to sex. Dr Alex Kakoraki, Murchison Bay Hospital,Kampala

2 Young Talk, October 2010

Every right has responsibilities


Joyce Otim Nape, the chairperson of the National Council for children says: Do not only look at your rights. Look at your responsibilities as well. You have a right not to be beaten, you also have a responsibility not do bad things. zYou have a right to parental care and a duty to do work. Mukagatale Scovia, 12, P5, St Paul PS, Kiboga I have a right to education, food, clothes. We are 12 children in our family but our parents ensure that we enjoy these rights. There are children in our neighborhood who do not enjoy these rights. They eat once a day and dont go to school. I fetch water at home, dig and do other domestic work, I do any other work my parents ask me to do. zYou have a right to education and a responsibility to pay attention and work hard in class. zYou have a right to medical care but when you fall sick and a doctor gives you medicine, you have the responsibility to take the medicine so that you get well. For example if you are HIV positive, you have a right to care and treatment and a duty to take your ARVs as the health worker has told you. You also have the responsibility to keep away from risks like early sex that can cause you diseases zYou have a right to shelter and a responsibility to clean where you live. I bath the whole body everyday, to keep clean. I also wash my uniform, pair of socks and underwear. If you are dirty, germs will attack you and you become sick. Sserwanga Steven, 11, P5, Young Cranes, PS, Kiboga. zYou have a right to parental care and a responsibility to respect and love your parents

Pupils of Masindi Town Model PS say: We thank our parents for keeping us in school.

disabilities also have rights


Children with disabilities have the same rights like those who are not disabled. Many children with disabilities do not attend school. They are sexually abused and get pregnant, infected with HIV or STDs. This is sad. We can change this.

Children with

Bed bugs bite me at school


Nasasira Innocent 13, P6, St Paul Kyamutwe PS, Kiboga , says:
We have bedbugs in dormitory, Our beddings are infested with bed bugs, they bite us and we cant have any sleep. Bedbugs sack my blood, I may develop sickness. We reported the issue to the teachers, and they promised to spray them with chemicals. The dormitory matron treated the bedbugs with chemical once, but they are still biting us. Also we sleep down on the floor, we dont have beds. The floor is very hard and snake or other insects can bite me while sleeping down. At home we dont have bedbugs and I sleep on a bed.

I have a reI am blind, but an my body, sibility to cle spon and clean the wash my clothes a Lydia, 18, Hyuh dormitry. PS, Iganga P7, Bishop Willis

Mubeezi Joy, 16, P7, Bishop Wills PS, Iganga says: Iam blind but it is my right to be protected from sexual abuse. I also have the responsibility to report people who want to abuse me sexually. It is my right to speak out openly to people who try to abuse me.

Sorry, for the sleepless nights. Bedbugs cause you a lot of discomfort but they do not cause any diseases. Ask your parents to talk to the school to spray all the mattresses with chemicals. Dr Paul Semugoma, International Hospital Kampala.

Young Talk, October 2010

When your rights are abused, get help


You have a right to speak and get help if you have a problem. So if your rights are being abused, get help Parents arrested
Ssekamatte Steven, 11, Young Cranes PS, Kiboga says: In Kapirivu village, Kiboga district, parents of one boy used to over work and beat him. They also denied him food. One day they locked him up in a chicken house for two days. The neighbors noticed that he was missing and reported to the LC1 chairperson and the police. The police looked for the boy and found him in a chicken house. The parents were arrested. If you know of a friend who is being tortured, talk to an adult, your teacher or the LC to help them.

I am over worked
NA, 14, P6 Uganda Martyrs Centenary PS, Kitgum says I stay with my step mother. Every morning, I wake up early and fetch 10 jerrycans of water before going to school. I also clean the house, wash dishes and prepare tea for the family. I have to walk two kilometres to the school. I am always late for school. The teachers give me punishments like slashing. By the time I go to class, I am already tired; I cannot catch up with the rest. Sorry NA, doing all that before class makes you tired. Do you have brothers and sisters? Ask them to help you. You can also do some of the work in the evening so that you donot have a lot of work in the morning. Find a trusted adult to talk to your mother so that she can reduce the amount of work she gives you in the morning before school. You can also explain to your teachers why you are always late so that they can talk to your mother.

My father stopped me from playing


Innocent Ociti, 14, P6 Uganda Martyrs Centenary PS, Kitgum says: My father has a shop but wants me to be in the shop and sell the products. He does not want me to play with my friends. One time our school had a sports day but he stopped me from running yet I am among the best athletes at school.

Sorry Innocent, find time and tell your father how you feel about it. Explain to him that as much as you want to help him, he should also give you some time to play and participate in school activities. Do this respectfully. Remember to continue helping your father.

b i i t ti f If you are being mistreating or you k know of a friend who is being mistreated, report to: z APPCANN: 0800111222(Toll free) Family Protection Unit: 0800199399, 0800199499 or 0714 668030 z Raising Voices: 0414531186 You can also report to a responsible adult like your parents, teacher, religious leader, or police.

Know your Body


The private parts of girls are a special part of the body. It has three passages. It has the anus, urethra and the vagina. z The anus is where the feaces pass z The urethra is where the urine passes The vagina is a muscular tube. It is where vaginal fluids, menstrual blood and the baby pass.

Lets look at vaginal cleanliness.


z Wash your vagina at least twice a day. In the morning and evening z The vagina has a natural way of cleaning its inside. So do not insert your fingers to clean inside

Your duty is to clean the outside.


z Do not put fingers inside your vagina. This may hurt you or cause infection. z Use clean water, do not use soap. It is best that you wash the vagina first before the rest of the body so that the water you use is fresh without any soap. When you bath the body first, the water may become soapy. This is not good for the vagina. z Dry the area well. z Put on dry, clean cotton knickers.

A healthy vagina:

z Should not have sores z Should not feel itchy z Should not have a bad smelly discharge Dr Alex Kakoraki, Murchison Bay Hospital, Kampala

4 Young Talk, October 2010

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I have been with an STD for two years. I got treatment once which made it disappear for six months. But it has returned. What can I do? A.M, P7, 16, Lugazi UMEA PS, Buikwe Dear A.M, It is possible that you did not get proper treatment or you did not complete the medicine given to you by the health workers. It is also possible that you had unprotected sex and you got re-infected again. See a professional doctor or visit a big hospital near your place. Wait to have sex. It is for mature people. You may also get HIV which has no cure or you may impregnate a girl and be imprisoned. Stay safe, say no to sex, concentrate on your studies. Can I get HIV if I share knickers with a person who has HIV? Muhayimana Monica, 11, Kisoro parents Junior PS Sharing knickers? Why would you share knickers? HIV is active in blood, vaginal fluids and semen. HIV is spread through: unprotected sex, with a person who has HIV. An infected mother to child during, pregnancy, giving birth or breast feeding. Sharing sharp instruments like needles, razor blades. HIV is not active on knickers and other clothes, but sharing knickers is not good for your hygiene. You will get fungal infections, skin rashes which can affect your private parts. Ask your mother or guardian to buy for you your own knickers. Always wash your knickers with soap and clean water, dry them in the sun, and never wear wet knickers. Say No to sex and do not share sharp objects to avoid HIV. Is it true that if I wash my penis with soap, I will get cancer? Emu George, St Jude Malaba PS,Tororo George, soap does not cause cancer of the penis. Instead it improves your hygiene. But do not put soap Pupils of Cream Hill Nursery and Primary School, Kampala sing during a music and drama competition at their school. They say: It is our right to stay in School. inside your foreskin. It can cause a bad smell. Use soap to clean on top of the penis with clean water. Clean inside the foreskin with clean water which is not soapy. Is it bad to use an expired condom? Akankwasa Afia,14, Kamuganguzi PS, Kabale Afia, have you been using expired condoms? It is very dangerous to use an expired condom. It can burst or get torn during sex. Then it is no longer protecting you. You can get infections and unwanted pregnancy. Avoid using expired condoms. Remember at your age, you are too young to have sex and to handle the results of sex like unwanted pregnancy, dropping out of school. Concentrate on your studies for now. Is abortion bad or good? Grace Wamono, New Hope, PS, Bugiri Grace, do you want to abort? Or you have ever aborted? Abortion is illegal in Uganda. You can be sent to prison. It is also very dangerous. You can get infections, over bleed and even die. You can lose your uterus/womb and fail to have children in future. Girls who abort take long to recover from the bad feeling they get after doing it. Delay sex to avoid early and unwanted pregnancy. This will also help you avoid abortion. I had sex with my sister when I was young. Am I still a virgin? JP, Little Star PS, Bushenyi No, you are no longer a virgin. Virginity is lost when one has sex. But by now you may have found out that it is a terrible thing to have sex with your sister. It is called incest. It is against the law and our cultures. Avoid early sex to prevent early pregnancy and HIV. Dr Alex Kakoraki, Machison Bay Hospital, Kampala, Dr Paul Semugoma, International Hospital Kampala.

Advice
to

Nakabiri

In July, Rebecca Nakabiri , P6, Serina PS, Wakiso said: A Shop keeper wants to give me money, to have sex with me. I told him I am too young to have sex, but he refused to listen. I fear to tell my parents because they will not believe what I tell them. What can I do? We received over 100 letters advising Nakabiri. Thank you young talkers. All letters to Nakabiri win exercise books. Alinda Esther, 12, P6, Masindi Town Model PS, said: Dont fear your parents, they are a source of wisdom and can help you. Be open to them. Aboka Gilbert, P6, Redemer children PS, Adjumani, said: Talk to your teacher, to help you. Nankya Resty, 13, P7, Namagunga Boarding PS, Mukono said: Dont accept his money. Your body has more value than money. If you give in for sex, you will get HIV/AIDS, STDs, pregnancy, or drop from school. Katushabe Rebecca, 15, P7, Buphadengo PS, Kamuli said: That is defilement. Report that man to a trusted adult.

What kind of country i f would you like Uganda to be and why? Write to Young Talk: PO Box 22366 Kampala

Pupils of Kawempe Decorous PS, Kampala. Say NO to Sex, listen to your parents.

Star schools
Congratulations to Lugazi UMEA PS (423 letters), Buphadengo PS (363 letters), Wakitaka PS (278 letters), Uganda Matrys PS, Namagunga (231 letters). You win footballs and net balls. Head teachers, please encourage your pupils to write to Young Talk. PO Box 22366, Kampala Iam an orphan, I stay with my aunt who pays for my school fees and she is HIV positive. Her husband works far. When she demanded to have sex with me, I refused. She has refused to pay for the fees. Should I drop from school or have sex with her? Mugisha Ivan , 11, P5, Kisoro Parents Junior PS

Publisher: Straight

Talk Foundation

4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Kampala, Tel: (031) 262030/1, Fax: 534858, E-mail: strtalk@imul.com, strtalk@ straight-talk.or.ug, President: C. Watson Executive Director: S. Ajok ; Print Director: T. Agutu, Editorial Manager: M. Akello, Editors: J. Abongowath, P. Kiwuuwa, F. Ouma, J. Nafula and A. Nanyonjo; Chief Designer: M. Kalanzi, Designers: GB. Mukasa, Allan B. Dentine Printer: The New Vision. Young Talk is funded by DANIDA, DFiD & SIDA.

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