USAID Site Visit to HIVSA and Future Families on Nelson Mandela Day

On July 18th, 2024, in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day, HIVSA hosted a significant site visit from USAID at Future Families, HIVSA’s sub partner in Mamelodi. This visit highlighted the impactful work being carried out under the Preventing HIV/AIDS in Vulnerable Populations (PHVP) Program, a collaborative effort aimed at providing comprehensive support to children, adolescents, and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Gauteng Province.

The site visit began with a warm welcome by HIVSA and Future Families, setting the stage for a day of insightful presentations and interactive sessions. Rona Steffens, PHVP Chief of Party at HIVSA, delivered an introductory briefing, providing an overview of the PHVP Program's objectives, achievements, and collaboration with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Health (DoH). She emphasized the program's comprehensive approach, which includes health services, psychosocial support, and economic strengthening initiatives designed to foster resilience and self-reliance among vulnerable populations.

Vivian Mukanima Machokonye, Deputy Director of Social Work at Future Families, followed with an overview of Future Families’ contributions. Founded in 2010, Future Families has been instrumental in providing care and support services to families impacted by HIV/AIDS in Tshwane. Their efforts have been particularly focused on ensuring that children in need have a safe and supportive environment to thrive.

The delegates then rotated through various stations, each showcasing different facets of the collaborative efforts between HIVSA, Future Families, and other partners like WRHI and Shout-It-Now. These stations included:

1. Future Families & Shout-It-Now Collaboration: Highlighting services such as HIV Testing Services (HTS), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) screening for adolescents and young people.
2. Future Families & WRHI Key Populations Collaboration: Focusing on support for children of female sex workers, emphasizing the importance of tailored interventions to address their unique needs.
3. Future Families & WRHI (DSP) Collaboration: Demonstrating comprehensive case management processes and evidence-based support interventions for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV (C/ALHIV). Programs like Kidz Alive, Vhutshilo 3, and Abangane were highlighted for their role in enhancing treatment literacy, adherence, and viral suppression, along with providing essential mental health support.
4. Participant Experiences and Feedback: Allowing delegates to engage directly with program participants, including children and adolescents living with HIV, who shared their personal experiences and the positive impact the program has had on their lives.

The visit concluded with words of appreciation, acknowledgments, and a group photo, encapsulating the spirit of collaboration and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations.

Since its inception, the PHVP Program has achieved remarkable outcomes. As highlighted in the provided infographic, the program boasts impressive statistics: 99% of participants know their HIV status, 96% of those living with HIV are on ART treatment, and 62% have achieved viral suppression. Moreover, the program has reached over 300,000 participants since 2019, providing essential services such as psychosocial support, ART adherence counseling, nutrition-related support, TB screening, and schooling support.

The USAID site visit underscored the significant progress made through the PHVP Program and the vital role of partnerships in addressing the complex challenges faced by vulnerable communities. HIVSA and Future Families' collaborative efforts serve as a powerful testament to the impact of dedicated service delivery and community engagement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.