CHIP stands for Combination HIV Prevention.
General overview of what CHIP does/Focus Area
The CHIP Project works towards improving PrEP uptake and building the capacity of healthcare workers to provide KP-friendly services in the target areas of Chitungwiza and Mazowe. It makes use of the hubs/ safe spaces model to provide youth-friendly services and create PrEP demand among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and Adolescent Boys and Young Men (ABYM) aged between 16-24 years and in their diversity. Pangaea Zimbabwe (PZ) is operating youth drop-in centres in Chitungwiza and Mazowe which offer both clinical services and non-clinical services (comprehensive sexuality education).
Major activities
The hubs are safe spaces where adolescents and young people access comprehensive HIV and sexual reproductive health services in an environment where they are free, comfortable, and open about the issues that matter most to them. The package of services offered at the hubs includes reproductive health services including screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing services, family planning, pregnancy testing, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, and treatment of minor ailments. Life skills training, financial literacy education, and economic strengthening are also some of the provided services. The package has been improved over time to include the provision of youth-friendly services based on a peer-to-peer model for mobilization and psychosocial support, PrEP demand creation, and interventions to improve PrEP uptake and effective use. All PZ hubs, manned by qualified nurses, counsellors, and peer champions, also link with other organizations in the respective communities for the provision of long-acting family planning methods, ART initiation, and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). In addition, the hubs provide educational support through space for young people to study/ access computers and the internet.
Target population
The priority population is adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) (16-24) in their diversity that is including sex workers, lesbians, queer and transgender women. The secondary priority population is adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) (16-24).