Emma Touny Waundjua Tuhepha (born 11 December 1974) is a

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

activist. In 1996, she was the first Namibian woman to state publicly that she was

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...

-positive. She became a high-profile activist for HIV/AIDS awareness and her efforts paid off, as

anti-retroviral The management of HIV/AIDS normally includes the use of multiple antiretroviral drugs as a strategy to control HIV infection. There are several classes of antiretroviral agents that act on different stages of the HIV life-cycle. The use of multiple ...

drugs soon arrived to treat Namibians with HIV/AIDS. In 2001, she co-founded Lironga Eparu (learn to survive), a support group for those living with HIV which also participates in advocacy, awareness raising and policy development. Tuahepa is now the National Coordinator of the Organisation. She is from the

Caprivi Region The Zambezi Region is one of the 14 regions of Namibia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the country. It is largely concurrent with the major Zambezi River where it gets its name from. The region has eight constituencies and its capi ...

and attended the Caprivi College of Education before earning a Teaching Diploma at the

Windhoek College of Education The Windhoek College of Education (now known as the University of Namibia Khomasdal campus) is public university in Khomasdal, Windhoek, Namibia. It opened in 1978 and is one of four national colleges of education. Notable alumni * Christine ǁHoeb ...

and taught briefly at Okuryangava Primary School.

References

1974 births Living people People from Zambezi Region HIV/AIDS activists People with HIV/AIDS Namibian activists Namibian women activists 20th-century Namibian people 20th-century Namibian women 21st-century Namibian people 21st-century Namibian women Windhoek College of Education alumni {{Namibia-politician-stub