The HIV B.I.B.L.E: An eye-opener for youth

Nov 14, 2014

As the World AIDS Day approaches (December 1), a Uganda writer launches a book to sensitize youth on HIV and AIDS.


KAMPALA - As the World AIDS Day approaches – December 1 – sensitization on the global pandemic continues. 
 
Here in Uganda, Eddie Mugulusi has written a book he has called The Amazing HIV B.I.B.L.E to help raise awareness on the deadly disease. He hopes that the work cautions the youth on the rising reckless behavior they adopt to sexually relate with their peers today in Uganda.

New Vision’s Elvis Basudde reviews the publication.
 
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The book entitled The Amazing HIV B.I.B.L.E is indeed an amazing book which explores the life of today’s modern youth and their intimate and sex lives.
 
B.I.B.L.E stands for ‘Be Inspired Become Lively Empowered’.
 
The plot is captivating. Bwire, a university freshman falls in love with a fellow student on campus. They begin to date, engage in unprotected sex, and after a while rumours start circulating that the girl was HIV positive. She knowingly gave Bwire HIV and this shocks him beyond words and changes his life forever. Bwire is bewildered that somebody would do such a thing on purpose.
 
The book is based on a one man’s true story – an interesting, breathtaking yet touching and sad story. A story with love, betrayal, suspense and amazing characters that will grip you and keep you turning the pages to the very end.
 
My favourite part of the book are the  chapters on sex education, sexual networking, use of condoms, HIV testing, relationships, HIV and pregnancy, sexual reproductive health information and services, STDs and STIs and HIV/AIDS as a whole because so many people do not even know the simple early signs of HIV.
 
The HIV B.I.B.L.E is mainly directed to the youth because, as young persons, each and every time they need something to look out to, like a model story. And being young people, they are always experimenting – doing this and that – and they need to be pointed to the right direction.
 
The author decided to share this story with so many people because, as a young person himself (he is 25) he looked around and there were so many young people who were ending up in the very same situation, succumbing to HIV every day, when they wouldn’t have done so.
 
 
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Eddie Mugulusi, author of The Amazing HIV B.I.B.L.E PHOTO/Elvis Basudde
 
 
After you have read The HIV B.I.B.L.E, seeing that the path you are taking is risky, it could actually make a difference in your life. It is a 200-page book, more of a hands-on book. It breaks down detailed chapters into a self-help kind of approach.

The story is a bit scary, though I found the theme of this book, “you are responsible for your actions” remarkable because young people, especially, need to take responsibility for your actions because everything you do will eventually lead to a consequence if you did not think about the decision.
 
What others say about the book
 
While launching the book at Kololo Secondary School in Kampala recently, the guest of honour, Dr. Deepmala Mahla, the country director of Marie Stopes Uganda, said The HIV B.I.B.L.E is one of a kind on HIV/SRH which describes real life situations in a way that anybody would find it interesting.
 
“Unlike any other reading material that is out there that anybody can pick up and read, this book has been designed in a way that it is not simply feeding you with information, but it is feeding you with a situation that you actually might be living under yourself,” she said.
 
Margret Happy, an HIV activist, says the book is a “must read” and an eye-opener as it brings the reality of HIV/AIDS closer to the people.
 
“Above all, it will tell you how to stay safe from this virus. Instead of having a leaflet that talks about HIV, early signs of HIV, one only needs to read this book.”
 
Rukh-Shana Namuyimba, a TV journalist, says she has read many books on HIV and AIDS but that The HIV B.I.B.L.E is a class a part.
 
“It is the book that will make you reflect on your past sexual behavior and make you change for better,” she says.


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