With support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is conducting an adolescent psychosocial training in Kaoma, to curb counseling and testing gaps identified in the adolescent friendly health services in the region.
The training is being attended by15 volunteers working in CIDRZ supported health facilities namely, Kaoma Urban, Mwanambuyu, Mayukwayukwa 2, Simakumba, Luvuzi and Mbanga health centres. Others include Koma District Hospital, Lubosi Hospital Affiliated Health Centre, as well as Mitete, Nyaala, Nkeyema, Namilangi and Kahare rural health centres.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony, Provincial Medical Director for Western Province, Dr Francis Liywali emphasized the importance of young people’s participation in the fight against the HIV Pandemic.
“We require you, the young people to be front liners in the fight against this pandemic as you are the most vulnerable group in contracting the virus. You are therefore important in the attainment of undetectable and untransmittable levels therefore, grasp and implement what you are learning in order to serve our communities better”, Dr. Liywali said.
The training is aimed at developing effective counseling skills among volunteers to enable them provide comprehensive quality psycho-social counseling skills and HIV testing services especially to adolescent clientele.
This is in order for volunteers to acquire comprehensive knowledge on the spread and HIV intervention strategies currently prevailing, demonstrate effective counseling skills in general situations as well as special needs arising in adolescents and demonstrate competence and effectiveness in testing clients for HIV.
Participants are expected to roll out their counseling skills and HIV testing competences especially in adolescent’s health friendly spaces thereby improving HIV health coverage.