
Letta Coaloa, 37, is bathed by volunteer caregiver Freda Mapma. Coala has AIDS and cannot walk or stand without help. Her son Charles, 18, taunts her about death. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Joyce Maake bathes AIDS patient Letta Coaloa. Joyce is a caregiver with “Good Hope,” which is based in Tembisa, South Africa. (Francine Orr / LAT)
AIDS patient Letta Coaloa sits her bed, too weak to stand on her own, after a caregiver bathed her. (Francine Orr / LAT)
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Traditional healer Flora Mogano pages through her records. The highlighted patients have died. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Pumphile Ngcobo and her baby are both HIV positive. She lost two sisters to the disease. (Francine Orr / LAT)
HIV-positive Pumphile Ngcobo and her son Khethokuhle Ngcobo, 3. (Francine Orr / LAT)
Pumphile Ngcobo, 39, carries laundry inside her small home in the Vosloorus Township, Vumbuka Hostel, outside of Johannesburg. (Francine Orr / LAT)
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Pumphile Ngcobo talks to her neighbor through a fence. (Francine Orr / LAT)