Our Work
Adolescent & Youth Health
Supporting young people with services that meet their needs, not just their age
Helping Adolescents Navigate Health, Identity, and Independence
Adolescence is a time of change — physically, emotionally, and socially. For young people living with HIV, this transition can be especially complex. As children shift from relying on caregivers to managing their own health, many face challenges with disclosure of their HIV status, adherence to treatment, and identity. Others are newly exposed to HIV risk and need accurate information, prevention tools, and judgement-free support.
Anova’s adolescent and youth programming supports young people across this spectrum. We offer clinical services designed for youth, peer-led support, psychosocial care, and targeted prevention. Whether navigating HIV, relationships, or reproductive health, we help young people build confidence, community, and autonomy.
What We Do
Youth Care Clubs (YCCs)
Anova’s Youth Care Clubs are a cornerstone of adolescent HIV support. These monthly, facility-based groups bring together adolescents living with HIV in age-appropriate cohorts. Clubs offer psychosocial support, pre-packed medication for easy pickup, and honest conversations about sex, stigma, and self-care.
YCCs also help:
- Support children and families through HIV disclosure
- Guide adolescents in managing treatment and clinic visits
- Build skills and confidence around relationships, identity, and health
By combining clinical follow-up with connection and mentorship, YCCs make care more meaningful — and more sustainable.
PrEP for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW)
Adolescent girls and young women remain one of the most vulnerable groups for HIV in South Africa. Anova has scaled access to oral PrEP across schools, clinics, and communities, with tens of thousands of AGYW provided with PrEP since 2019. We offer peer support, tailored messaging, and continuation tools that centre choice and dignity.
Reaching Young Men and LGBTQ+ Youth
Through campaigns like Young Heroes and youth-focused Coach Mpilo models, we engage young men and LGBTQ+ youth with HIV testing, STI services, PrEP, and supportive counselling. Services are delivered in youth-friendly clinics, schools, and community hubs — and shaped by young people themselves.
Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Family Planning
Anova integrates family planning and sexual health services into our youth programmes to ensure young people can make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. We offer contraception, pregnancy testing, syndromic STI management, and access to SRH counselling — alongside HIV services in a unified, youth-centred package.
Psychosocial Support and Disclosure Guidance
We support caregivers and providers to approach HIV disclosure in age-appropriate, honest ways. Through structured counselling, peer mentorship, and caregiver support, we help prepare young people to understand their status, take ownership of their care, and stay connected.
Why It Matters
Adolescents are the only age group in South Africa where HIV incidence is rising, and treatment outcomes remain inconsistent. Many disengage from care during the transition from paediatric to adolescent HIV and other chronic treatment services — not because they lack will, but because the system often lacks the flexibility and support they need.
Anova’s youth approach is designed to close that gap, making it easier for young people to access care, build trust, and stay healthy on their own terms.
