Meet the inspiring NozibeleQamngana, a woman of incredible strength and resilience. In August 2013, at the age of 22, Nozibele discovered she was HIV positive during a wellness day program. Initially shocked, disappointed, and afraid, she kept her status a secret from her family for five years, silently battling depression and suicidal thoughts.

Facing the challenge of maintaining her “good girl” image within her staunch Christian family was perhaps the most difficult part of her journey. However, six years after her diagnosis, Nozibele found the courage to publicly disclose her HIV status. She turned her personal story into a source of inspiration, engagement, and education for others dealing with health and HIV-related issues.

Despite the hurdles, Nozibele didn’t let HIV define her life. She pursued her goals with determination and earned accolades such as the Nelson Mandela Business Chamber Top 40 under 40 achiever recognition, a Businesswoman Association of South Africa Regional Achievers Award, a Fruits of Democracy Award (civil society), and a Vision4Women “Beyond the Balance Sheet” award finalist. She holds a National Diploma in Marketing, a Bachelor of Technology in Marketing, and a BA Honours Degree in Development Studies.

Nozibele took her advocacy further by creating a YouTube Channel focused on living positively with HIV. In January 2020, her channel was recognized as one of the Top 15 HIV YouTube Channels on the web by Feedspot, reaching over 250,000 subscribers.

In an unexpected turn, Nozibele became a children’s book author and HIV advocate. Her book, “I Am Still Me,” based on the story of a 7-year-old girl born with HIV, has become a best-seller, selling over 1000 copies since its launch in April 2020. The book aims to destigmatize HIV for young people, answering their questions in a courageous and informative way.

Today, NozibeleQamngana-Mayaba is a happily married woman, a mother, and a successful self-published author. Her journey from a challenging diagnosis to thriving is a testament to her resilience. Whether living with HIV or facing any other terminal disease, her message is clear: do not give up on life. You can make the best out of every difficult situation and thrive while surviving the worst. Draw inspiration from Nozibele and go on to live your best life!

SOURCES

https://www.hivplusmag.com/print-issue/2021/11/29/2021s-amazing-people-living-hiv-author-nozibele-qamngana-mayabahttps://www.news24.com/you/wellness/woman-opens-up-about-living-with-hiv-id-swallow-three-or-four-pills-so-i-could-sleep-20200218