Our Work
Non-Communicable Diseases & Mental Health
Meeting complex health needs where people live, work, and seek care
Bringing Non-communicable Disease (NCD) and Mental Health Care Into the Community
South Africa faces a rising burden of chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and cancer. Yet services remain fragmented, facility-bound, and siloed. Anova is working to change that. We integrate NCDs and mental health services into existing HIV and primary care platforms, with a strong emphasis on community-based screening, education, and seamless referral.
Our goal: to ensure people receive comprehensive, connected, and respectful care, no matter where they are.
Quick Facts: Chronic Conditions and Mental Health
- 1 in 3 adults in South Africa has hypertension1
- Between 7-13% of South African adults have diabetes and 67% are pre-dibetic2,3
- More than 85% of PLHIV in South Africa experience hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol), increasing cardiovascular risk4
- Only 35.4% of South African women have ever received a cervical cancer screening — and rates are far lower in rural areas5
- Up to 1 in 3 South Africans will experience a common mental health condition in their lifetime, and there is a vast unmet need for treatment6
What We Do
Chronic Disease & Cancer Integration
- Community-based education and screening for chronic disease and cancers (cervical, breast, prostate)
- Linkage to care and promotion of client-centred chronic care
- HPV screening and vaccination in key population programmes and liver health monitoring in harm reduction and Hepatitis C programmes
Expanding Mental Health Access
- Mental health training for nurses, counsellors, and peer educators
- Routine screening and referral for common mental health conditions, e.g., depression, anxiety, and substance use
- Stigma-reduction through community engagements and outreach
- Counselling and psychosocial support in clinics, especially for adolescents and caregivers
Why It Matters
Undiagnosed chronic illness and untreated mental health conditions silently erode health outcomes and quality of life, especially for people living with HIV. By embedding these services in communities and strengthening public platforms, Anova helps ensure care responds to the full spectrum of people’s needs — not just their diagnosis.
Community Spotlight
Ke Botlhokwa
In Limpopo and the Northern Cape, access to mental health care has long been limited — and stigma deeply entrenched. In 2023, Anova launched the Ke Botlhokwa programme (“I Matter”), with funding from the Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT), to help change that in their mining communities.
Operating across 15 primary health care facilities, Ke Botlhokwa integrates mental health screening and counselling into everyday care. Nurses and lay counsellors are trained to identify common mental health conditions during routine visits. Community health workers facilitate open conversations in communities, mainly rural, and schools, helping families understand mental wellbeing and when to seek help.
The programme also strengthens referral pathways to psychologists and psychiatrists, equips providers with self-care tools, and runs public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and demystify some of the cultural beliefs about mental health. By embedding mental health into the public system — not as a vertical service, but as part of routine care — Ke Botlhokwa is helping communities see mental health not as a hidden issue, but as an essential part of health.