Joyce Ouma

Joyce Ouma is a young woman living openly with HIV and a leading youth advocate in Kenya. She represents the interests of young people on the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund and the Communities’ Delegation to the board of the Global Fund.

Fellowship Focus
As a Fellow, Joyce is working closely with other advocates to advocate for the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Specifically, she is building a cadre of AGYW advocates to press for the Global Fund and PEPFAR to support integration, and she will join the Ministry of Health’s Technical Working Group on Integration to implement policy and guidelines for better access to youth-friendly services. Joyce is also following and engaging with COVID-19 research and treatment in Kenya with the goal of bringing COVID-19 information to AGYW networks.

In Their Own Words
The issue of adolescent girls and young women and sex work is dynamic and keeps evolving with time. Government should give us the means and the resources to be in charge of our lives. They should trust us and make us part of the decision-making process. Involve us in the process because HIV/AIDS directly affects us.

Media

• AIDS War in COVID Pandemic — KTN News
• HIV: Light at the end of the tunnel — The Star
• Let’s Talk About the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring — Making Waves

Materials

• Knowledge Gaps, Perceptions, and Attitudes on Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention among Adolescent Girls and Young Women