At 10 years old, Juliet Phiri from Kazungula District was diagnosed with HIV, a fact her parents kept from her, thinking she was too young to understand. Though life continued with school, friends, and family, she didn’t fully understand the constant clinic visits and medications.

In Grade 7, her mother, with the help of the Anti-Retroviral in-charge, disclosed her status.

“It was the worst day of my life. I asked myself, Am I going to die? How will people treat me at school? Will everyone find out? I broke down crying. My mother tried to comfort me, but the officer in charge of ART clinic gently said, Please, give her a moment. After a short silence, the in-charge turned to me and said softly, ‘Juliet, you’re a beautiful girl. No one will ever know your status unless you choose to tell them. Just stick to your treatment, stay focused in school, and you will live a long, happy life.’ Those words were so comforting to me,” Juliet said.

Juliet gradually began visiting the clinic alone and joined the Teens Club through DAPP Zambia under the TCE Programme. There, she met other teens living with HIV.

“Bit by bit, I started to open up. The anxiety I used to feel slowly faded away. For the first time, I felt free. With the support of the Field Officers and the Teens Club, I gained the confidence to manage my treatment. I became a regular at the meetings, and I loved helping other teens who were going through the same thing. In 2021, I was even chosen to represent our group at a youth conference in Kazungula District. That was such a proud moment for me. I felt seen, valued, and encouraged,” Juliet said.

“In 2023, I became pregnant. When I went for my first booking, my viral load was high. I was unsuppressed. That news broke me. I thought I had done everything right, but now my health and my baby’s life were at risk,” she added.

She received counselling and was switched to second-line treatment. With support from the healthcare team and DAPP Field Officers, she stayed committed to her care.

“My baby was born healthy. In May 2025, I took him for his 18-month HIV test, and when they told me he was negative, I was so relieved. I cried tears of joy. It gave me more strength to stay on treatment and keep going for both of us,” Juliet said.

Today, Juliet is a resilient leader and mentor, guiding peers at the Teens Club and advocating for treatment adherence.