A milestone reached on World AIDS Day has focused new attention on how faith communities influence South Africa’s response to HIV. On 1 December 2025, a PhD study focusing on HIV stigma in religious settings was formally completed when the degree was awarded, marking the completion of research that examined a long-standing barrier to treatment.

Dr Germari Kruger completed the degree as part of the Giving Children a Chance for Life project, a programme that investigates paediatric adherence to HIV medication. Her study centred on cooperation between faith leaders and healthcare workers and explored how such cooperation can shape attitudes in communities where stigma affects treatment uptake. The research examined the role of religious leadership in promoting access to care and the ways in which community structures can influence the decisions of children and caregivers.

Fieldwork took place in Gugulethu and Masiphumelele in the Western Cape. Dr Kruger engaged congregants, clergy and health practitioners to understand how stigma is formed, reinforced and challenged in faith settings. A key moment in her research journey occurred during a visit to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, where she met the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. His record of advocacy for dignity, equality and community support informed parts of her approach, particularly the influence of moral leadership on public health behaviour.

Dr Kruger’s doctoral work was supported by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)–NRF Desmond Tutu Doctoral Scholarship, which enabled collaboration between South African and Dutch academics. Prof. Eddy van der Borght and Prof. Riaan Rheeder served as promotors, with Prof. Marceline Tutu van Furth and Dr Sabine van Elsland as co-promotors. Time spent in Amsterdam added comparative insight into how faith institutions engage with health systems in different contexts.

Dr Kruger’s findings contribute to ongoing discussions about the intersection of religion and healthcare in HIV treatment. The study outlines how cooperation between faith and health sectors can support adherence to treatment and reduce stigma, especially for children and families who rely on community networks for care and guidance.

Her PhD marks progress in efforts to strengthen community-based responses to HIV and supports broader work aimed at improving treatment outcomes across the country.

Dr Germari Kruger and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.