CHIVA has been supporting rural clinics in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa for almost 20 years, transforming the lives of children living with HIV.
One of these is baby Anele: this is her story.
Anele* was born in February 2022 to Nontobeko*, a Grade 12 learner living with HIV. As a vulnerable adolescent, Nontobeko has very little support in her own young life and struggles to take her life-saving medication consistently. Unknowingly, Nontobeko passed the virus onto her newborn baby – Anele. Two days before Anele was born, Nontobeko’s blood tests revealed a very high viral count, flagging Anele as exposed.
Without proper diagnosis, treatment and care, Anele is at risk of dying.
Anele’s situation was further complicated by several unclear PCR tests and Nontobeko’s shock and disbelief that her baby may be HIV positive.
Finally, in May, three months after precious Anele entered the world, she took her first dose of the medication to save and transform her life. The CHIVA team who initially flagged Nontobeko and Anele as a vulnerable mother and baby pair provided expert support for the healthcare team caring for them.
The journey, however, does not end here. As a teenage mother, Nontobeko will need ongoing psychological, emotional and social support as she comes to terms with her situation.
CHIVA will continue to assist the healthcare workers and their patients as they counsel them around the importance of taking medication and how best to do this, as well as monitoring both mother and baby clinically.
Our donors allow us to transform the lives of vulnerable children, like Anele, exposed to HIV and adolescents, like Nontobeko living with HIV, one mother and baby at a time.
If you would like to donate and be a part of our story, please follow this link
https://chiva-africa.org/donate/
Dr. Karyn Moshal
Founder & Chair, CHIVA Africa
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of mother and child.

Fiona joined the Board at CHIVA Africa in 2019. Fiona studied Law at Oxford University and started her career as a Barrister practicing in Chancery chambers before moving into financial services.
Shaun became a trustee for CHIVA Africa in February 2019. He is a South African qualified lawyer and holds the position of Chief Legal Officer at Cairn Capital, a leading European asset manager.
Dr Mo Archary is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban and the University of KwaZulu-Natal: Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.
Lauren joined the board in 2019, and is a lawyer by training and built a successful legal career in South Africa, specialising in public interest and media law. Lauren has lectured in media law, ethics and public interest law and takes a special interest in furthering the cause of women and those disadvantaged in South Africa.
Dr Moshal is the founder of CHIVA Africa and CHIVA South Africa and has chaired the CHIVA Africa Board of Trustees since its registration as a charity in 2009. Born and raised in South Africa, Karyn graduated in medicine from the University of Cape Town in 1988.