PROJECT OVERVIEW
The purpose of this project is to address identified HIV care and treatment gaps among high-risk subgroups and work towards epidemic control in Zimbabwe. This project is under the Zimbabwe Partnership to Accelerate AIDS Control (ZimPAAC) consortium, where Pangaea Zimbabwe is a partner, working through direct support and established, sustainable and collaborative relationships with MOHCC, NAC and other stakeholders.
Main objective
To improve access to HIV prevention, care and treatment services for high-risk population in 20 districts in Zimbabwe
Scope of work
The purpose of this project is to address identified gaps in KP HIV care and treatment and work towards epidemic control in Zimbabwe under the Zimbabwe Partnership to Accelerate AIDS Control (ZimPAAC) consortium, through direct support and establishment of sustainable and collaborative relationships with MOHCC and others
Target population
High level key outcomes from 2020 to 2024:
- Capacity building: Over 400 healthcare workers and 85 community cadres across 23 supported public sector facilities in Harare trained to offer health services that are friendly to high-risk populations. Trust in specific public sector facilities has been fostered and accessibility increased.
HIV Prevention
– Condoms: Over 2 million condoms distributed across 85 sites
– More than 10000 high risk subgroups were reached with PrEP literacy sessions through face to face and virtual platforms
– PrEP Linkages: At least 70% of HIV-negative individuals in high-risk subgroups were linked to PrEP for HIV preventionPrEP initiations: In the 20 supported districts, PrEP use increased from 1815 in 2020 to 12,172 high risk subgroups in 2024.
– PrEP continuation: active monitoring of PrEP continuation, and fostering community support through PrEP support groups led to 52% continuation rate at month 1
– New biomedical prevention products: PZ is creating demand for CAB -LA, as a pilot at 3 public sector sites.
Overall understanding of HIV prevention increased, thereby leading to less risky behaviourPre-Exposure Prophylaxis
HIV Care and Treatment
Community understanding of and uptake of HIV services has increased.
-Over 1,000 integrated outreach initiatives, which successfully engaged and educated 34,350 high-risk individuals about the various available HIV services
-More than 4,000 HIV self-test kits distributed through the different facility and community platforms, whilst more than 2600 clients were screened with 99% linkage to treatment for the 875 (33%) who were positive for STIs.
Community members empowered to make informed decisions about their sexual health, thereby fostering a proactive approach to HIV prevention, care and treatment
– ART adherence and care: Peer support groups were established, resulting in at least 95% of participants achieving either undetectable viral load or low viremia
- Complementary services
· Mental health: Over 657 individuals at high risk were screened for common mental disorders (between 2022 and 2024) and offered Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) – a Friendship Bench model.
Project Overview
The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) partnership is aimed at reducing the rate of HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Zimbabwe. DREAMS program, provides young women with the business mentorship and equipment needed to start their own small businesses. Without a steady stream of income, young women in Zimbabwe are more at risk for engaging in transactional sex and transactional relationships for financial stability which can lead to gender-based violence, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies.
Main Objective
The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-FREE, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) project aims to improve access to HIV prevention services to Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) ages 15-25 years and reduce new HIV infections by 40%.
Scope of work
Pangaea Zimbabwe, as a key partner in the Zimbabwe Partnership to Accelerate AIDS Control (ZimPAAC) consortium, is enhancing the implementation of the DREAMS program, which focuses on supporting adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) identified as being at high risk, known as Young Sisters. Building on the program’s successes since its inception in 2019, this initiative identifies and enrolls Young Sisters into the DREAMS program, subsequently providing them with essential services in their communities.
The program delivers comprehensive HIV prevention education, promotes positive social norms, offers financial literacy training, and implements sexual violence prevention sessions tailored to their needs. Additionally, selected Young Sisters have access to need-based clinical services and economic strengthening interventions, ensuring a holistic approach to health and empowerment within their communities.
Target population
- Adolescent girls
- Young women (aged 15-24 years) at high risk of HIV infection
Geographical areas
Results (Number of AGYW reached and given services)
High level key outcomes from 2020 to 2024:
Capacity building: Over 400 healthcare workers from 60 supported facilities were trained in Matabeleland North province to provide AGYW friendly services. This comprehensive training equips the healthcare professionals with essential skills and knowledge, ensuring they can offer tailored health services that cater to the unique needs of AGYW. By fostering a supportive and understanding environment, these trained workers aim to improve health outcomes, enhance access to vital health services, and empower young women to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. This initiative not only promotes healthier communities but also actively contributes to advancing healthcare access and service delivery across the region.
Other HIV Prevention Modalities
- Condoms: About 30 000 male condoms were distributed to AGYW across the communities surrounding facilities. reflecting a strategic effort to promote sexual health and safe practices among this vulnerable demographic. This distribution is an integral part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing unintended pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including combination HIV prevention. By making condoms readily accessible, the program empowers AGYW to take control of their sexual health and make informed decisions about their reproductive choices. PZ engaged peer cadres to distribute condoms ensuring access and availability to those who need them.
- Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: About 1690 AGYW were initiated on PrEP. PrEP Champions (PCs) provided essential information about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and addressed concerns expressed by adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), including potential side effects, pill adherence challenges, and the safety of using PrEP during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Participants received foundational knowledge about PrEP and were guided in identifying population groups that are at substantial risk of HIV infection and eligible for PrEP initiation.
- Economic Strengthening: The Economic Strengthening (ES) intervention empowers YS through household and disposable incomes. This reduces their economic and social vulnerabilities and equips them with entrepreneurial skills, professional record keeping practices, marketing and business proposal development. ES offers education to YS on the importance of ISALS and available support for AGYW in business or seeking to venture into business. Updated ES activities by district in the province are highlighted below:
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Funding Source
U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC
Implementation period
October 2023 to September 2028