The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), under the Adolescent Comprehensive Sexuality Education (ACSE) Program, has trained 36 Neighbourhood Health Committee (NHC) staff and 9 Health Facility Staff (HFS) in Western province.

The training is being conducted in three (3) districts namely, Mongu, Sesheke and Limulungu. The training has attracted 14 NHCs and 4 HFSs in Mongu, 12 NHCs and 3 HFSs in Shesheke and, 10 NHCs and 2 HFSs in Limulungu district.

The ACSE program is a project focused on providing comprehensive sexuality education to 34, 000 in and out of school adolescents in Western province.

The purpose of the training is to train NHCs, HFSs and Healthcare workers in the 11 Chapter CSE Package aimed at impacting knowledge to adolescents about their sexual and reproductive health and rights to reduce the risks of HIV transmission and unplanned pregnancies.

Topics in the package include values and rights, adolescent development, sexuality, gender roles and equality, planning, relationships, communication, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection, prevention, and risk reduction, sexual and gender-based violence. The comprehensive sexuality education package is targeting adolescents and young people aged between 10 and 24 years.

Earlier in January 2020, the project trained 40 adolescent peer educators based in 20 health facilities across the three (3) districts.

The ACSE program is a one (1) year project funded by Global Fund through the Ministry of Health and is currently being implemented in 10 provinces across the country by various Civil Society Organizations and community-based organizations. The project commenced in January 2020 and will run up to December 31^st, 2020.