The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), through its United States Agency for International Development USAID Zambia ECAP III project and with technical support from Project HOPE, has made remarkable progress in empowering young people living with HIV with knowledge using the Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS) model.

Esther Ngulube Chileshe, USAID ECAP III’s Social Protection and Gender-Based Violence Services Manager, highlighted the program’s success in reconnecting children and adolescents who had previously been lost to HIV treatment and care services.

“We are incredibly proud of our progress through the CATS programme. Many children and adolescents who had been lost in the system are now linked back to life-saving treatment services,” she said.

Esther explains that the Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters model, which empowers young people with the skills, tools, and knowledge to guide and support their peers in adhering to HIV treatment, has been a critical factor in the programme’s success.

She added that the CATS model has been crucial in helping children and adolescents achieve and maintain viral suppression by addressing internal Stigma, which helps them stay committed to their treatment and lead healthier lives.