Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Amid Dual Pandemics, HIV Innovation Continues in Africa

Anita Powell

   JOHANNESBURG - Thabani Raymond Kalala, or "coach," as he prefers to be
   called, was diagnosed with HIV six years ago. He lives in a small town
   in rural South Africa, but this year, as societies across the globe
   went into viral lockdowns, his world expanded.

   The 33-year-old community development worker was part of a pilot
   project called Coach Mpilo -- the word means "life," or "health" in
   isiZulu. As a "coach," he works with 54 newly diagnosed men and boys,
   supporting their battle against HIV and boosting them, in ways big and
   small.

   The launch of the project, earlier this year, coincided with the
   beginning of global shutdowns to stop the spread of coronavirus.
   However, he says, that hasn't slowed down progress.

   "I think the program has been successful," he told VOA by phone from
   his rural village along South Africa's southern coast. "However, the
   challenge is, we had to cut down many people, actually we had to cut
   down many coaches. '¦ We need to try, I'm not sure if this is possible,
   but if we can get more coaches, because the program has been very
   successful to such an extent that even the facilities that we work in
   have seen the difference that we've been doing."

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