Sibongile Tshabalala

SIBONGILE TSHABALALA

National Deputy Secretary General, Treatment Action Campaign

A health and human rights activist who also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial AIDS Council in South Africa, Sibongile Tshabalala has been living with HIV for over 20 years.

“My main priority is to empower more women by providing them with the necessary skills, particularly in leadership. Almost everywhere in the world women still face oppression and limitations when it comes to their autonomy as leaders. As a female leader, my biggest challenge is that I often feel that my recognition is solely based on the need for gender sensitivity, rather than my expertise. There are so many health issues that primarily affect women, but there is less interest in addressing them.”