INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
Agnes' Message to the World
Agnes Nyamayarwo is a mother. A nurse. An activist. A survivor. This is her
remarkable story.
In 1992, Agnes was working as a nurse in Kampala, Uganda when her husband died of
AIDS. Shortly after her husband's death, Agnes tested positive for HIV. As a mother of
10 children, she worried that she had unknowingly passed the virus to her children. Her
fears were realized when her youngest son died prematurely of AIDS at six years of age.
And, because of her HIV status, her 17-year-old son disappeared after receiving threats
from classmates.
Despite her grief, Agnes decided to take action for herself, her children and others. With
the help of a sponsor, Agnes began antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. She gained weight,
regained her strength and recovered the hope to live.
Her improved health enabled Agnes to mobilize her community in the fight against
AIDS. She began volunteering as a counselor with The AIDS Service Organization
(TASO), a Ugandan NGO. She also began traveling throughout the country with the
TASO Mulago Drummer Group, using skits, song and dance to educate communities
about AIDS. Their determination caught the attention of U2 singer Bono who now
sponsors ARV treatment for the 25 group members.
Her bold and heroic activism for universal AIDS prevention and treatment eventually led
her outside of Africa. Agnes has met with world leaders, including U.S. President
George Bush, arguing for more resources to address HIV/AIDS and its impact. "My
message to the Americans and European countries is to ask them to continue funding the
Global Fund and continue fighting the AIDS problem in Africa," says Agnes. "With
continued support, I know one day there will be a world without AIDS."
Agnes is a mother, a nurse, an activist and a survivor.
Agnes is able to maintain her life with the help of ARV medicines.
