At CHIVA Africa, our mission to mentor healthcare workers and support children and adolescents living with HIV is yielding remarkable results. In just 3 of the 54 clinics we currently support, 100% of the children being treated by those clinics have suppressed viral loads. This means that our targeted interventions in just 14 individual cases has had an immense impact on 56 children, whose HIV is now under control.
For those unfamiliar, viral load suppression is a critical goal in HIV treatment. When a person’s viral load is suppressed, it means the virus is barely detectable in their blood — dramatically improving their health and reducing the risk of transmission. Thanks to proper medication adherence and the best practices learned from our case interventions, these children can now live healthier, more fulfilling lives — and this progress is no small achievement. By directly and indirectly helping so many children achieve viral load suppression, we’re not just improving individual outcomes, but creating a ripple effect of health, hope, and healing across entire communities.
A life-saving case study: The power of intervention
One case, in particular, highlights the incredible life-changing results of our work. A child with advanced HIV – who was alarmingly close to dying – was able to turn things around after our intervention. Today, that same child is not just alive, but thriving, with a happy and healthy future ahead.
What makes this even more powerful is how the knowledge gained from this single case has far-reaching benefits. The healthcare workers we mentored in treating this child learned valuable, real-world lessons about advanced HIV care. Now, they are passing those lessons on to other healthcare professionals, ensuring that many more children benefit from these same life-saving strategies.
This “pay it forward” model of mentoring and support is the true essence of the Butterfly Effect — small actions leading to significant, widespread outcomes. The success of our interventions doesn’t stop with the children in our care. It continues to spread and transform lives beyond our immediate reach, helping more children receive the quality care they need to suppress their viral loads and lead healthier lives.
The ongoing challenge of maintaining success
While we are excited about the strides we’ve made, we know the journey doesn’t end here. The real challenge lies in maintaining these successes over the long term. Suppressing viral loads is a tremendous achievement, but keeping them suppressed is just as crucial. This requires ongoing dedication from both the healthcare workers we mentor and the children themselves, who must remain diligent about taking their medication.
As we look ahead, our focus will shift toward ensuring sustained adherence to treatment and continual support for healthcare workers and caregivers. We are planning a study to explore the most effective strategies for maintaining this success over time. By investing in research and follow-up efforts, we aim to provide healthcare workers with the tools they need to keep children on the path to long-term health.
A ripple effect of hope for the future
What started as individual interventions has now blossomed into a movement that impacts entire clinics, communities, and beyond. The Butterfly Effect of our work at CHIVA Africa is proof that small actions — like mentoring a single healthcare worker or saving a single child — can create waves of change that extend far beyond our immediate cases.
Our efforts are reaping incredible rewards, but the work is far from over. Together, with the support of healthcare professionals, donors, and the communities we serve, we are making a lasting impact and building a brighter future — one healthy, thriving child at a time.
Stay tuned as we continue to explore new ways to ensure the success of our interventions and transform even more lives across South Africa.
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.