Prossy Turns Lived Experience Into Sage Advice on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
At just 22, Prossy Mirembe has become a symbol of resilience and purpose in the heart of Kamuli District, eastern Uganda. Born with HIV and raised in the shadows of stigma, today she stands in front of classrooms and community groups, not as a victim, but as a peer educator guiding other young people to live healthily and positively.
Since joining the Youth and Adolescent Peer Support (YAPS) programme in 2019, Prossy’s life has taken a turn, one that is lifting others along with her. For Prossy, it started with a week-long training in Kamuli and a clinical placement at Nankandulo Health Centre IV, where she continues to support the clinic as a peer mentor. YAPS is a UNICEF and Ministry of Health initiative funded by the joint UN Regional Programme 2gether 4 SRHR in partnership with Sweden.
Adolescents and young people like Prossy have become game-changers in their communities and beyond. Their lived experience makes them best placed to connect with other young people and be heard. As a young person living with HIV, Prossy speaks from the heart. Armed with information and life skills, Prossy provides counselling, community outreach and follow-ups on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across Kamuli District. She visits schools, homes and health centres, advising peers how to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, supporting HIV treatment adherence, and advising how the HPV vaccine can help to prevent cervical cancer. She refers young people to the health centre as needed and supports the nurse on follow-ups.
In Uganda, and all across Eastern and Southern Africa, adolescent girls in particular experience disproportionate risks, including early and unintended pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence. Young people need vital information to make informed choices for healthier lives. Prossy’s local health clinic offers stigma free, youth-friendly services and community and peer models of information sharing and support.
Tens of thousands of young people across the region have been engaged in mentoring programmes, through 2gether 4 SRHR. Mentoring programmes are leading to positive results, including in HIV viral suppression, contraceptive uptake, improved mental health conditions and a reduction in intimate partner violence.
YAPS members also receive a monthly stipend of UGX140,000 (about US$36). This is more than just money, it is a launchpad for dreams. Prossy used her savings to invest in livestock and start a small hair salon. She bought a bull which she named Kayaayi.
“I hope to sell Kayaayi later this year and buy a female cow for milk. Eventually, I want to buy a plot of land and build a house,” she says with quiet ambition. “The stipend also helps me meet personal needs as a girl without having to depend on anyone.”
According to Bashir Basutaine, a psychiatric nurse and Prossy's supervisor at the health centre, Prossy and her peer partners have made significant strides. “They help follow up on children living with HIV, visit schools and reach those who otherwise fear adults. They’re a bridge between the community and the health facility.”
Yet challenges remain. Prossy and her peers often walk long distances to reach clients. Supplies like gumboots and phone credit or airtime are scarce. Some homes deny them entry for fear of community stigma. And while some young people are eager to learn about HIV prevention, condom use and reproductive health, myths and rumors still circulate. Prossy’s role as a peer educator is crucial to addressing misinformation.
Despite these barriers, the impact is evident. Viral load suppression among adolescents is increasing. Young people are gaining confidence. And some former YAPS members have gone on to university studies or vocational training.
Prossy is focused on the present for now, empowering and supporting her peers, saving, planning. “I want to continue reaching young people, helping them stay on their medication. I know what it means to struggle, and I know what it means to survive.”
In her journey from patient to peer mentor, from silence to empowerment, Prossy Mirembe is a testament to strong coordination and donor support for successful government programmes, working sustainably together to reclaim futures.
2gether 4 SRHR is a joint UN Regional Programme, in partnership with Sweden, which brings together the combined efforts of UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of all people in Eastern and Southern Africa. For a one stop shop of information and resources in Africa, visit the SRHR Knowledge Hub.
