Current Programmes

Anova/APACE Program

The Anova Health Institute is proud to announce that it has received a five-year PEPFAR grant through USAID’s APACE activity (Accelerating Program Achievements to Control the Epidemic). This work will contribute to HIV epidemic control in South Africa and empower Anova to rapidly scale-up programs that alleviate the burden of HIV and TB.

Anova launched this ambitious, achievable and target-driven program on the 1^st of October 2018, aligning with PEPFAR’s aim to support South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for HIV and TB and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals to end AIDS. The ANOVAAPACE Program aims to accelerate and sustain epidemic control in the target districts through a data-driven, people-centred and evidence-informed approach.

The ANOVAAPACE Program will work in partnership with the Departments of Health in the City of Johannesburg and Sedibeng in Gauteng, and Mopani and Capricorn districts in Limpopo. Anova is already a trusted partner of the Department of Health (DoH), strengthening health systems through direct service delivery and technical assistance. Anova’s innovative response has enabled increased access to quality services.

By rolling out this collaborative effort, the program will contribute to South Africa’s vision of an additional two million people being started on HIV treatment by 2020. The ANOVAAPACE Program will identify over 400 000 people living with HIV, who are HIV-positive and not in care, through HIV testing services and community mobilisation and initiate them on antiretroviral treatment.

Health4Men - Anova/APACE Program

The Health4Men Program offers personal and confidential environments, designed to encourage the discussion of men’s most sensitive health issues, which are generally more complex than a simple check-up. The Health4Men campaign forms part of the Anova APACE (Accelerating Program Achievements to Control the Epidemic) project which is funded by PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). This will contribute to HIV epidemic control in South Africa and empower Anova scale-up programs that alleviate the burden of HIV and TB.

This is a collaborative effort among specialists, health care workers, nurses, WBOT's and counsellors from a wide range of practices — all of them experienced in male-specific conditions. We offer services at the following clinics: Zola, Chiawelo, Yeoville, Riverpark, Hillbrow, Itireleng and Polokwane.

MyFutureFirst

MyFutureFirst is a campaign that is part of the Anova / APACE program.

The MyFutureFirst project aims to promote the sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of AGYW, by offering SRHR literacy and administering contraception in aid of the reduction of unplanned pregnancies and further STI including HIV infection and transmission. These interventions include HIV testing for AGYW and their male sex partners and cover issues of gender-based violence.

The project markets the services of health facilities as well as encourages youth to pledge to put their future first – this is done through dialogues with youth and engagement with the MyFutureFirst communication channels. There is media coverage; live activations at ground level and online two-way engagement with the youth via the #MyFutureFirst Facebook page.

Health4Men

Anova’s Health4Men Initiative addresses the sexual health needs of gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Started in 2008, Health4Men is at the forefront of developing appropriate linkages to health services and information for MSM. With funding from PEPFAR/USAID and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, we have trained over 10 000 health workers in the public sector nationally to provide prejudice-free competent services to gay and bisexual men regarding their sexual health, including HIV-related services. We also ensure that gay and bisexual men can find their nearest competent clinic via our website, health4men co.za. Over 200 clinics nationally have been trained as MSM competent health facilities by our skilled teams.

Current Projects

Yellow Dot Doctor

The Yellow Dot Doctor campaign is an innovative approach of reaching doctors in private practice with education, sensitisation and awareness of MSM health information. The goal of the campaign is to ensure the uptake of services of MSM patients and ensure that doctors are appropriately screening, diagnosing and retaining MSM patients in care. The campaign is also on an awareness drive to inform MSM that these Yellow Dot Doctors exist, that can cater to their specific needs.

Your Care Network

Your Care Network is a model of contracting private GPs to provide HIV services on behalf of the Department of Health. Through government and donor funding, Your Care Network offers free HIV testing services and free HIV treatment for those who test HIV positive through private GP’s on the Your Care Network.

JAB Smart

JAB Smart provides comprehensive harm reduction services to people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and their partners. Currently the project is working in Johannesburg, Region F, with plans to expand to Ekurhuleni.

Due to the frequency of sharing needles and common risky sexual behaviour, PWIDs have been identified as key populations, meaning they are vulnerable to HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and other blood-borne infections. They also face stigma, prejudice and lack of access to required health services. The most commonly injected drug in South Africa is heroin.

Currently the project is reaching PWIDs via their mobile health unit which travels to the areas where there is a high concentration of PWIDs. Staff provides harm reduction packs which includes bulk clean needles/syringes, alcohol swabs, filters, sterile water, cooking gear plus condoms and lubricant, and nuanced HIV-related information. They are offered testing for HIV and other STIs. Those that test positive are then linked to a clinic so they can start on treatment. They are also provided with basic wound management services.

Family Free

Anova’s Family Free project aims to improve healthcare services through awareness and education in the rural Mopani district in Limpopo, South Africa. Founded in 2008, the project is funded by Orange Babies Netherlands and works alongside Anova’s Limpopo-based Khutšo Kurhula team. The project’s main focuses are to raise awareness within the community and to provide educational and psychosocial support. The children’s psychosocial support programme aimed at HIV-positive children, is the first of its kind in Limpopo that offers this kind of support. The children meet at the facilities monthly when they come to collect their antiretroviral (ART) medication. When they do this, Family Free provides age-specific relevant information about taking medication and to motivate the kids to be healthy. The project also focuses in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) of HIV and new HIV infections in adolescents as well as educating HIV-positive children and their caregivers.

Current Projects & Programmes