Meet Kenyan Lady Sharon Ngima 'Queen Of Condoms' Who's Taking HIV Menace By The Horns, Vowed To End Infections

• Sharon Ngima, a young woman from Kenya, is a volunteer with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and is passionate about the eradication of HIV among young people
• According to The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), Kenya records at least 52 HIV infections weekly among the young population
• Ngima educates and persuades people to use condoms correctly and consistently, and she is committed to breaking down taboos and stigma around safe sex
• She is motivated by the thought of zero new HIV infections and wants to save the young generation from unintended pregnancies, HIV and STIs

Nairobi - In 1984, HIV was reported in Kenya for the first time, and after unleashing unparalleled terror on citizens for over a decade, it was declared a pandemic in 1999.

The then president Daniel Moi (now late) declared that the disease needed a multi-pronged approach for mitigation owing to the strain it had put on the country's struggling health sector.

Since then, Kenya and many developing countries have been swarming with developing partners and NGOs interested in fighting the scourge, including UNAIDS, AHF, and KELIN.

In 1987, the government established the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) to spearhead the Ministry of Health’s interventions in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and in 2006, the HIV and AIDS Tribunal of Kenya was formed.

Countless volunteers have rolled up their sleeves in different capacities and joined the fight, and one of them is Sharon Ngima, a young woman living in Nairobi and a graduate of Kenyatta University.

Passionate about mental wellness and eradicating HIV among young people in Kenya, Ngima is a volunteer with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). One of the activities she does at AHF is peer education on safe sex; while at it, she distributes condoms.

She was crowned Queen of Condoms by Stanley Ngara, best known in Kenya as KIng of Condoms and has been in the condom distribution space for over 21 years.

"She is passionate about this. I am mentoring her in this journey; though it is not easy, it is fulfilling. The challenges are there, but that doesn't dampen our spirit. She is young, and what she needs most right now is support from partners and even the media so that she can soar higher in the daunting but rewarding task," said the KIng of Condoms when TUKO.co.ke reached him for a comment.

TUKO.co.ke had a sit down with Ngima, and here is a Q and A breakdown of our chat with the passionate Queen of Condoms:

1 - What motivated you to become a volunteer for AHF?

As a young person, I understand that most of my peers are sexually active, and the only way to protect them is to provide the appropriate information when it comes to sexual health. Prevention is better than cure, they say.

AHF Provides an advocacy platform for me to talk about appropriate condom use, which is why I feel motivated to work with them. Plus, getting to see what is happening in the real world, for instance, new HIV infections, STI infections etc, motivated me to join this course.

2 - How long have you been doing this work, and what are your main challenges and rewards?

I started as a member of the Kenyatta University AIDS control organisation back in 2019. That is when I got to learn about sexual health and mental health. In 2021, I was crowned the Queen of Condoms during World AIDS Day.

The main challenge is societal judgment, especially from the older generation.

Rewards

People will call me back to thank me for the information and state it has been helpful; it gladdens my heart to receive such calls or texts.

3 - What does the name “Queen of Condoms” mean to you?

King Stanley gave me the title. It means I am a condom educator, a condom champion.

4 - How do people react when they hear your nickname and see you carrying condoms around?

Mixed reactions; we live in a world where people are different.

Most young people appreciate that we can openly discuss sexual health; some will tease me; it is the way of life.

5 - What are some myths and misconceptions you encounter about condoms and HIV/AIDS in Kenya?

It is safer to use two condoms. This is very dangerous as friction from the double layers increases the chance of a condom bursting.

6 - How do you educate and persuade people to use condoms correctly and consistently?

I carry around the penile and vaginal models, and I illustrate the correct method of condom use.

I find it thrilling to talk about different types of condoms; studded, ribbed, non-latex, and feather-lite

7 - Can you recount a particularly impactful encounter?

Sagana Fisheries, It was my first off-campus presentation, and the way guys were engaged in the conversation was just amazing. People want to talk about sex; they have many questions about sex when provided with the appropriate platform.

8 - How do you balance your personal and professional life, and how does your work affect your relationships, health, and well-being?

There can never be a balance in reality, but in the professional world, I try to put that part of me aside and focus on my career.

My relationships are quite alright. I have a supportive circle, and that keeps me going.

9 - What are some of your goals and dreams for yourself and Kenya regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment?

To have as many condom outreaches as possible, especially in remote areas and carry out mass education.

10 - How do you plan to achieve them, and what kind of support or resources do you need?

I plan on visiting as many institutions as possible.

I want support in accessing as many colleges, universities and other institutions as possible.

Currently, I don’t have a source of condoms to distribute or other mobilization resources. An intervention on that would be helpful.

I would also like to urge the government to reduce or remove condom taxation.

11- Condom distribution can be a sensitive topic. How do you approach conversations about safe sex with the community? Are there any memorable reactions you've received?

Mostly, I deal with Gen Z peers, so it is not much of a hustle, but then I see some of the t-shirts I wear with condomizing messages raise eyebrows, especially among the older generation.

12 - Being a volunteer requires commitment. What motivates you to keep distributing condoms, even on challenging days?

My main source of motivation is thinking of zero new HIV infections. This can be achieved through the use of a condom. I want to save the young generation from unintended pregnancies, HIV and STIs.

13- Your work involves breaking down taboos and stigma. How do you navigate cultural sensitivities while promoting safe sex practices?

I try to educate people on the various benefits of safe sex despite the different cultural perspectives. That way, when it comes to condom demonstration and distribution, it is easier when I have emphasized the importance of safe sex.

Despite the cultural differences, sex is a common factor, and I think we must stop viewing it as a taboo subject.

14 - What message do you have for young people who might be hesitant to discuss safe sex and condom use?

Never be reluctant to use a condom. It is for your good. Wrap it before you tap it. Together we can end the triple threat by using condoms appropriately and consistently.

15 - When not at AHF, what do you do?

I coach tennis, especially during the weekends. On Sundays, I do community tennis coaching in Kibera. I also play tennis for fun.

I love nature walks, especially if waterfalls are involved.

I also enjoy cycling. I also do beadwork (shangas).

KIng of Condoms talks about men and HIV?

Commenting on a freshly released report by AHF that indicated HIV positivity rate among Kenyan men had, as of 2022, surpassed that of women for the first time, KIng of Condoms Stanley Ngara blamed the mubaba culture and the menace of cherishing multiple sex partners among men.

"Our generation has made it normal and fashionable for young girls to have older men as lovers and financiers. The problem here is that such relationships are only about sex. Most of the older men can't talk about anything else. Where does this leave the younger men? Some plunge into depression and substance abuse. Wabab have made God-given sex very expensive.

I encourage safe sex practices and urge all stakeholders to embrace this discussion. Marriage counsellors, please don't make the sex discussion very shallow. To prevent cheating and exposure if you are married, don't make sex to be a reward system, only offering it when you are happy," he shared.

Ngara indicated that he had partnered with well-wishers and started a rehabilitation centre in Kiandutu, Thika, under the initiative dubbed Linda Mali Safi.

The program aims to protect youngsters from HIV and substance use by providing training in baking.

"They learn here, they prepare pastries and sell them at least helping them to get a decent earning. The boys also get introduced to sporting activities like boxing and karate," he concluded.

Youth and HIV

Janet Musimbi, Programme officer- the Adolescent and Youth (programme at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council), said HIV prevalence is increasing in previously low-burden counties in Kenyan but singled out the youth as a population registering a worrying trend in new infections, females bearing the biggest brunt.

"Young women aged 15-24 years are approximately four times more likely to become infected with HIV than young men," she said.