Nsofwa Petronella Sampa facts for kids

Nsofwa Petronella Sampa is a brave Zambian activist and a counselor. She works to help people who live with HIV and those with disabilities. Nsofwa is known for her important work in supporting people with HIV/AIDS.

She has received special awards, like the Mandela Washington Fellowship. She also took part in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and was helped by PEPFAR. After learning about her own health, Nsofwa decided to speak up and help others living with HIV/AIDS.

Early Life and Discovering Her Health

Nsofwa Sampa was born in Zambia. This country has many people living with HIV. Her father passed away in 1994 when she was only two years old. Her mother passed away in 2002 when Nsofwa was ten.

After her mother's passing, Nsofwa went to live with her uncle. She took medicine every day but did not know why. Her cousins did not take medicine, which made her wonder. In 2003, she found her medical file. It showed that she had been diagnosed with HIV at age three. At that time, she did not ask her family about it.

School Challenges and Recovery

Nsofwa went to Mary Queen of Peace for primary school. Later, she attended a boarding school for high school. While there, another student found out she was taking anti-retroviral (ARV) medicine. Soon, everyone at school knew.

Nsofwa faced a lot of unfair treatment and was left out. Other students did not want to share a room with her. This made her feel very sad and depressed. She stopped taking her medicine. Her health became very bad, and she had to leave school.

She got very sick with other illnesses, like tuberculosis and meningitis. Because of this, she lost her sight and hearing in one ear. Nsofwa's aunt then asked an expert, Mannasseh Phiri, to talk with her. From him, she learned that her mother had also been sick. She also learned that she had been born with the virus.

After getting better, Nsofwa went to Munali High School. This school helped students who could not see well. She learned to read braille at the Zambia Library for the Visually Impaired. In 2013, she studied counseling at Chainama College of Health Sciences. She wanted to help others living with HIV and disabilities.

Her Work and Activism

Nsofwa Sampa is now an important HIV activist and a counselor. She works with people who have HIV to help them live healthy and positive lives. She also encourages families to talk openly about health issues with their children.

Nsofwa helps people with HIV remember to take their medicine. As of May 2019, she is working on a special project called the Positive Movement. This project helps people with disabilities, especially those who are blind, to feel strong and capable.

Awards and Recognition

Nsofwa has been recognized for her amazing work. In 2014, she received help from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

In 2017, she won a Mandela Washington Fellowship. This award is part of the Young African Leaders Initiative. It allowed her to travel to the United States. There, she received training in how to be a strong leader in her community.