Since its inception in October 2023, the Defense Force Prevention Programme (DFPP) has made significant progress against its targets. Speaking during a high-level review meeting with the defense force, CIDRZ’s Project Director of the DFPP under the Department of Defence (DOD), Dr Mwangelwa Mubiana-Mbewe, highlighted the achievements made in capacity-building activities by CIDRZ by June 2024.

“We have successfully trained 120 staff in ART management and 36 in Electronic Logistics Management Information System eLMIS, Training of Trainers (TOT), among other crucial training programs,” Dr Mubiana-Mbewe reported.

She added that CIDRZ had initiated the accreditation process for two military hospital laboratories, marking a significant step in enhancing Defence force medical services.

CIDRZ is implementing this DFPP programme in collaboration with Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) as the community partner. The DFPP is a four-year PEPFAR-funded programme through the US Department of Defence (DOD).

The goal is to support the DFZ in reaching sustainable control of the HIV epidemic by strengthening the Defense Force Medical Services health systems and technical capacity to implement a person-centred HIV prevention, care, and treatment program aligned with national guidelines and PEPFAR’s vision 2025.