As global funding for HIV programmes faces renewed uncertainty, South African activist Yvette Raphael is sounding the alarm, demanding dignity, access, and truth for women living with HIV.
In a country where over 7.8 million people are living with HIV, access to testing, treatment, and support has long been a matter of survival, not privilege. For women like Yvette, it is also a matter of justice.
A leading voice in the fight for HIV rights and co-founder of Advocacy for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (APHA), Yvette has spent more than two decades confronting stigma, challenging systemic neglect, and ensuring that women, especially Black, rural, and marginalised women, are not left behind.
“We’re not statistics. We’re people. And we deserve to be seen, heard, and supported without shame,” says Raphael. “Too often, women living with HIV are pushed to the margins. I refuse to let that happen.”
Yvette’s activism is deeply personal. Diagnosed with HIV in her twenties, she went public at a time when stigma was widespread and access to treatment was patchy at best. Since then, she has become a global advocate, advisor to international health organisations, and mentor to young women navigating life with HIV.
Her work is as personal as it is political and that dual perspective is what makes her voice so powerful.
For years, South Africa’s HIV response has relied heavily on international partnerships, particularly PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has funded antiretroviral drugs, education, and outreach programmes since 2003. But today, that support is under threat.
“We cannot afford to go backwards,” says Tania Joffe, founder of Unu Health, highlighting Yvette’s work during Women’s Month. “We need to support women and initiatives focusing on HIV care in South Africa.”
Despite advances in treatment and the rollout of ARVs, women, especially young Black women, remain disproportionately affected. According to UNAIDS, women aged 15–24 account for over 30% of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Many still face stigma, gender-based violence, transportation challenges, and limited access to testing.
“If you want to fight HIV, you have to fight poverty, patriarchy, and policy failure at the same time,” says Raphael. “This isn’t just a virus, it is a social issue.”
Through APHA, Yvette trains community leaders, supports women navigating the healthcare system, and advocates for programmes that truly reflect the realities of those they serve. Her activism has taken her from rural townships to global health conferences, where her boldness and honesty have earned her respect on the world stage.
Yet the struggle continues.
“There’s no justice in a system where a woman has to choose between feeding her children and catching a taxi to collect her ARVs,” she says.
As Women’s Month concludes, Unu Health urges South Africans to pay attention to Yvette’s story and to the countless women holding the line for millions.
What you can do:
- Educate yourself about the realities of HIV in South Africa.
- Support community-led organisations like APHA.
- Advocate for continued global funding for HIV relief.
- Speak up because, as Yvette says, silence is a luxury too many cannot afford.
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