The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), successfully held a three-day Human-Centred Design (HCD) workshop at the CIDRZ Ven-You, Head Office in Lusaka.

The objective of the workshop was to apply Human-Centred Design methodologies to co-create and prototype person-centred care interventions under the P-CoRE Study.

The interventions aim to strengthen how health workers and the health system connect with, support, and retain clients living with uncontrolled or undocumented high viral load, including those who are out of care and those returning to care, with the ultimate goal of improving HIV care outcomes and achieving sustained viral suppression.

This activity forms part of the ongoing P-CoRE Study, which seeks to advance person-centred solutions for addressing uncontrolled viremia among populations disproportionately affected by HIV.

Stakeholders, including healthcare workers, community representatives, and partners from Lusaka and Chongwe Districts, participated in the workshop to refine interventions that enhance linkages between health workers, the health system, and clients experiencing challenges in HIV care continuity.

Over the three days, participants applied Human-Centred Design approaches to map client and care journeys, co-create practical solutions, and identify opportunities to interrupt pathways leading to uncontrolled viremia. Discussions also focused on bringing clients with elevated viral loads back to care sooner, strengthening community outreach and counselling, and ensuring welcoming, non-judgmental re-entry into care.

The workshop focused on designing implementable interventions across the Connect, Rapport, and Engage prototypes. These included community outreach to locate clients who are out of care, counselling approaches that address individual barriers through person-centred communication, and structural supports such as navigators, flexible service delivery models, and facility champions.

The Human-Centred Design workshop will also be extended to Central Province from 16 to 18th December as part of ongoing efforts to expand the co-design process to additional regions and strengthen Zambia’s HIV care response.