The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), under the Operation Triple Zero (OTZ Plus) Project, has trained 32 adolescent peers from Chongwe, Lusaka and Kaoma districts. The peers were trained in Adolescent HIV Literacy Package at Golden Zambezi Lodge in Lusaka.

OTZ plus is a project focused on enhancing adolescent sexual reproductive health as well as improve health outcomes for adolescents living with HIV.

The training was meant  to orient adolescent peers on the aim and objectives of the project, as well as, train the peers on the HIV Literacy Package- A 13-chapter package, aimed at promoting HIV self-health management to positive adolescents recruited in the OTZ Plus clubs. The project aims to administer this package to 6000 positive adolescents across 16 youth friendly health facilities and communities in Lusaka and Western provinces.

Among the topics covered in the package include:  What is adolescence, STIs, HIV and AIDs,  HIV treatment, Adherence,  Viral Load, Disclosure, Emotional wellness,  Self-Awareness and Human Development,  Adolescent Mental Health, Gender Based Violence, HIV and Sexual Health and Healthy Living and Nutrition. The HIV literacy package is tailored for adolescents and young people aged between 13 and 24 years.

Three (3) months ago, the project oriented 32 Ministry of Health staff (District Adolescent Focal Point persons (2) and health facility in charges and adolescent focal point persons (30) from 15 project sites on the project. The workshop which was held in Siavonga from 27^th to 29^th July 2020, was also used to gather insight on what content should be included in the Adolescent HIV Literacy Package as well as the Adolescent Mobile Application currently being developed by the project.

This one-year project is funded by the M.A.C AIDs Fund, it commenced in June 2020 and will run up to May 31^st, 2021.