HIVSA was established in 2002 in response to the urgent and growing need for education and psychosocial support for individuals infected and affected by HIV when Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) was not readily available. At the time, the organisation primarily focused on HIV prevention interventions and educating People Living with HIV (PLHIV) about living with HIV. For those individuals that had already been initiated onto ART, HIVSA focused on education around the importance of treatment adherence, the side effects of ART and the management thereof. Much emphasis was also placed on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).
HIVSA is a non- clinical organisation and has consistently implemented its community- based interventions through its partnerships with Community- Based Organisations (CBOs). Throughout its history, HIVSA has implemented programmes that contribute towards health and community systems strengthening in response to the HIV pandemic. As ART became more readily available in South Africa (SA), HIVSA adapted its programming to ensure increased access to life saving ART while maintaining its focus on HIV prevention at a community level.
For the past 22 years, HIVSA has implemented programmes with HIV at its core. Our years of experience have taught us that while HIV is a virus and is clinical in nature, human behaviour and the psychosocial and economic factors influencing human behaviour determine the trajectory of HIV infections and the outcomes of HIV programming. As a result, we have diligently identified factors that hinder progress and have implemented additional interventions to mitigate against these factors. These interventions have included the provision of psychosocial support in the form of support groups, sexual and reproductive health education for the populations most vulnerable to HIV infection such as Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), holistic service delivery to Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY), HIV testing supported by thorough pre and post- test counselling, economic strengthening interventions, brief alcohol screening and education due to the link between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour and prevention of Gender- Based Violence (GBV) interventions and survivor support.
Underpinning our interventions is a community capacity strengthening principle. We have always maintained that for HIV programme interventions to remain sustainable, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of our community partners to deliver these interventions. HIVSA firmly believes in communities taking ownership of their health, social and economic well-being through the transfer of knowledge and skills. In addition, HIVSA has and continues to acknowledge the need for creativity, innovation and agility in the design and delivery of our programmes to ensure their relevance and impact.
JUDITH CHINKUMBI
Chairperson
Judith holds Advanced Company Law II(Wits University), MBA – Henley Business School(UK), Advanced Dip...Read More
YASHMITA NAIDOO
Chief Executive Officer
Yashmita is a social worker by profession. While her initial work experience was centred around child...Read More
SHENILLA MOHAMED
Board Member
Shenilla Mohamed is the Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa. She is media, commu...Read More
LAWRENCE NACHITO
Board Member
Lawrence is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Business Leader with over 20 years experience gained...Read More
Back Row : Dino Rech, Board Member | Delphine Ndhlovu, Human Resources | Lawrence Nachito, Board Member
Front Row : Neo Mohajane, Director – Health System Strengthening | Yashmita Naidoo, Chief Executive | Judith Chinkumbi, Chairperson | Shenilla Mohamed, Board Member
HIVSA provides dynamic support to the communities it serves, developing a number of education, training and support programmes.