The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) is pleased to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) programme, a landmark initiative launched by PEPFAR in 2014.
CIDRZ started implementing the DREAMS Project through the USAID Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations I (CHEKUP I) in 2021 after it transitioned from the USAID Zambia Community HIV Prevention Project (ZCHPP), which Pact Inc was implementing.
The DREAMS initiative, launched on World AIDS Day 2014, was designed to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia through a comprehensive array of services, including education support, economic empowerment, care for gender-based violence survivors, and access to HIV prevention resources.
The US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzalez, highlighted the programme’s significant impact on the lives of young women in Zambia over the past decade, including advancements in HIV testing, the widespread use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and efforts in parent education.
“The United States government, through PEPFAR, has reached over 1.3 million adolescent girls and young women with DREAMS programming. Over 180,000 girls have received access to HIV testing services. More than 165,000 have been initiated on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and over 80,000 parents and caregivers have graduated from the DREAMS parenting programme”, he said
Mr Gonzalez praised the programme’s efforts to promote disability inclusion and emphasised its commitment to ensuring accessibility for marginalised groups.
“In Lusaka, the DREAMS centres in Matero and Kalingalinga have embraced the deaf community by hiring sign language interpreters and deaf mentors, ensuring that deaf adolescent girls and young women have equal access to the resources they need to live healthy, empowered lives.”