Adolescents are a vulnerable population to HIV/AIDS because of the unique social, economic and structural challenges they face that increase their risk of acquiring HIV. Therefore, providing high-quality, youth-friendly HIV services is critical to addressing this public health challenge. To strengthen this strategy, CIDRZ, through its Defense Force HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DFPP), is conducting a series of Comprehensive Adolescent HIV training for Defence Force Medical Services (DFMS) staff to enhance their adolescent handling skills within their health facilities.

Speaking at one of the adolescent training workshops recently in Lusaka, CIDRZ DFPP Network Lead for Lusaka and Southern Province Dr Misamono Kayembe said these trainings were necessary to ensure adolescent-friendly services in DFMS facilities.

Dr Kayembe said the expected outcomes of the training included DFMS staff acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of adolescent care and thereby providing adolescent-friendly services in DFMS facilities. He further added that the training aimed to create support groups for adolescents and appointment of adolescent focal persons in DFMS facilities for better management of adolescents living with HIV.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Dr Ronald Tumbama, one of the facilitators at the training, emphasised the importance of the training, noting that “adolescents are a special population that needed to be handled properly. Hence the need for us to strengthen the capacity of health workers to enhance services delivery”. Lt. Col. Dr Tumbama, who is also the station medical officer for Zambia Air Force Livingstone base, added that “without knowing the unique challenges adolescents face, their unique behaviours and their unique needs, we may miss out on the targets.
 
And one of the workshop participants, Staff Surgent Otiria Mubita, a DFMS clinician, hailed the training stating that the skills she acquired will go a long way in improving health services for adolescents in DFMS facilities.