In photos: Young Women Affected by HIV and Aids in Africa

‘I encourage other mothers to keep breastfeeding their babies, even though it’s hard. They will see their babies are healthier if they do,’ says Nonhlanhla, a nursery school teacher, in Polokwane City, South Africa. She is HIV positive and took precautions when pregnant to ensure her baby would be born negative. In order to breastfeed for as long as possible, she expresses by hand every morning. South Africa is home to the world’s biggest HIV epidemic, but the country has made progress. Since 2010, new HIV infections have decreased by 49%, according to UNAids