The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia USAID CHEKUP I Project has provided educational support to 2,909 girls through the provision of uniforms and school shoes since January 2022.

USAID CHEKUP I Chief of Party Dr. Maurice Musheke said as part of the School-Based Prevention Intervention (SBPI) under DREAMS Initiative, the focus is not only on retaining vulnerable adolescent girls in schools through the provision of educational support, but extends to reducing the risk of HIV infection arising from transactional sex to meet their educational needs.

Dr. Musheke said the project targets to support about 7,803 girls this year in all DREAMS Districts. The dreams district includes Livingstone, Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Luanshya, Mufulira, and Chingola.

He said this during the official handover ceremony of 41 uniforms to vulnerable adolescent girls at Kamanga Primary School in Lusaka District on the 8th of September 2022.

During the event, Kamanga Primary School Headmaster, Mr. Jimmy Akakadelwa Simutanyi highlighted that school uniforms will not only help students to look clean and presentable, but it will boost their confidence in coming to school and improve attendance.

The DREAMS Initiative aims at supporting vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through the SBPI with school necessities to help them remain in school.