Adolescence listening to the facilitator (ZHECT CEO) during training.
Group photo of Peer promoters.
Caring for Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV)
The Caring for ALHIV project is aimed at addressing the concerns that the growing number of adolescents and young people living with HIV are not receiving consistent, appropriate support from HIV services especially in relation to sexuality, relationships and tailoring lifestyles around their HIV status. The issues to being addressed include strengthening demand for reproductive health services particularly among those adolescents living with HIV in rural areas.
This is being achieved by: (a) promoting programmes that integrate communication and life skills focusing on reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and socio-economic issues, including gender issues; (b) addressing the reluctance of certain segments of the population such as the health care providers so that they provide reproductive health services without prejudice and negatively judging the young people. The project is also helping these young people to be more assertive and acquire confidence so that they can make prudent decisions and therefore effectively deal with their day to day challenges.
ZHECT is targeting to reach 150 young women and men in Kafue District of Lusaka province focusing on rural and peri-urban areas and working with the existing support groups and NZP+ Chapters to build the capacity of HIV positive adolescents to take leadership and spearhead the process of making health information and services more available, accessible and acceptable to them. ZHECT is also building the capacity of health care providers in the two districts so that they can offer quality, friendly, non stigmatizing health and psychosocial services for youth who carry the virus, as well as foster economic empowerment for the ALWIH by linking them to private sector organisations for apprenticeship and skills development.
This is in recognition of the fact that HIV/AIDS is associated with economic, social, psychological and behavioral stressors that significantly affect coping patterns and overall health status. The emphasis here is that adolescents and young adults that are living with the virus will themselves determine the needs and social support that they require for their survival, coping, and general livelihood and that there will be a well informed, nonjudgmental understanding and reliable support system that will result in positive outcomes for many HIV-infected youth and that rebelling or asserting independence by skipping or stopping medication, that most of these adolescents exhibit will no longer be the case. This also includes the formation of support groups which is providing a stigma free environment that allows free expression, talk freely about their status, discuss challenges and share ideas.