Samuel – Managing AIDS at the Age of 16

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Samuel Maanela

Lesotho

16 years

School Student

Mom, dad, older brother and younger sister

Began antiretroviral therapy in 2005

“I can say that ARVs are important because... they brought me back to life again."

It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to learn that you have AIDS when you’re 12 years old.

Samuel Maanela says he felt pretty sorry for himself and wondered “why me” when his Mom first told him the news. He was very ill at the time and he, along with his parents, thought he would die.

But his doctors prescribed antiretroviral therapy and Samuel soon made a full recovery.

Now, 3 years later at the age of 16, Samuel is strong and healthy and can play as much soccer as he likes! Financing from the Global Fund and (RED) in Lesotho helps provide the two daily ARV pills people like Sam need to stay alive.

At school, Samuel’s favorite subjects are math and science and he wants to become either a doctor or an aeronautical engineer, or if possible, both!

One day he says, “I would like to find a cure for HIV and AIDS”.