Zambia Community HIV Prevention Program (ZCHPP)
WHERE: Luangwa, Chongwe and Lusaka, Lusaka Province; Ndola, Chingola and Luanshya, Copperbelt Province; Solwezi, North-Western Province; and Mongu, Western Province.
To prevent new HIV infections by increasing adoption of high-impact HIV services and protective behaviors, with a key focus on people living with HIV, discordant couples, adolescent girls and young women, and other high-risk population groups (e.g., fishmongers, truck drivers, plantation workers, mobile populations), using evidence-based and locally owned solutions.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Ministry of Health; Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA); Copperbelt HIV Education Project; PACT Inc.; Sport in Action; Zambia Centre for communication Programme (ZCCP); Zambia Health Education and Communication Trust (ZHECT); and JSI Discover Health.
WHAT: The ZCHPP contributed to prevention of new HIV infections by increasing adoption of high-impact HIV services and protective behaviours. We focused on high-prevalence, densely populated districts, and target groups at high risk of becoming infected or infecting others: adolescent girls, young women and their partners, discordant couples, people living with HIV, and mobile populations (e.g., fishmongers, truck drivers, plantation workers). ZCHPP recognized that tackling the causes and consequences of gender inequality, including SGBV, is essential to not only achieve optimal health for adolescent girls and young women, but also to reduce their vulnerability and risk for HIV infection.
After key determinants of risky behaviour were identified among these priority populations, approaches such as, increased HIV testing service and referrals to high-impact services, economic opportunities, and sensitisation sessions on preventive behaviours and SGBV, were tailored to address key drivers of the epidemic within each group.
The community HIV (CHIV), focused broadly on promoting HIV preventive behaviors and the uptake of high-impact HIV services among priority populations. CHIV activities included HIV testing services, economic strengthening initiatives, and community outreach activities such as interactive radio shows, community theater, and peer education sessions designed to disseminate correct health information and to combat sexual and gender-based violence.
