[Watch] Nombuyiselo Mapongwana: A Journey of Hope and Resilience

Woman sitting on couch
Motivational speaker Nombuyiselo Mapongwana shares her journey on living with HIV for 30 years. (Photo: Health-e News)
Woman sitting on couch
Motivational speaker Nombuyiselo Mapongwana shares her journey on living with HIV for 30 years. (Photo: Health-e News)

Nombuyiselo Mapongwana lived through some of the darkest days of the HIV epidemic in South Africa. No ARVs, no government support – but she never gave up. In 1997, Nombuyiselo was diagnosed with HIV. Five years later, she was living with AIDS. As her health deteriorated, in her darkest hour, she even wrote her own obituary.

Through the generosity of a private donor, she got access to ARVs in 2003, and by October of that year, she was on the road to recovery. Her health improved, and she began sharing her story with others, becoming an advocate and motivational speaker.

While South Africa has made huge strides – today having the world’s largest HIV treatment programme – the road ahead is still challenging. Watch to learn more.

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