Ms.
Mweemba is a peer counselor at African Services. She works across our
client programs using her personal experiences, extensive language
skills and knowledge of HIV treatment to help clients deal with a
positive diagnosis, access services and manage their care. She
facilitates daily workshops for the Independent Living Skills program
and coordinates African Services’ Women’s Advocacy Group. This project
aims to ensure health care access for African women immigrants at risk
for HIV through education, community mobilization, communications and
advocacy, and to reduce discrimination against and build leadership
among HIV-positive African women. She brings to her advocacy work
previous experience in community organizing and local politics in
Zambia, her home country. Sombo settled in the U.S. in 2003 and is
interested in pursuing a degree in social work. She hopes to return to
Zambia in the future to continue working in HIV/AIDS. Sombo speaks
Luvale, Nyanja, Bemba and Tonga, in addition to English.
