Adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV) require comprehensive psychosocial support to help them live positively and achieve optimal health outcomes. Living with HIV as an adolescent or young person can come with challenges that are not always easy to talk about. Treatment adherence, disclosure, stigma and discrimination can affect both health and confidence.

That is why safe spaces matter.

CIDRZ, in collaboration with Defense Force Medical Services (DFMS) with the support from the DHAPP Department of War, hosted a two-day support group meeting for adolescent and young people living with HIV at VenYou to address the key issues affecting adolescents and young people’s health outcomes. On 28^th and 29^th September 2026, the event successfully engaged 44 adolescents and young people from 6 Defense Force Facilities in Lusaka. It was a space to talk openly, listen to one another and learn from shared experiences.

Through peer-led discussions, the young people explored essential self-management skills, treatment adherence, disclosure and ways to deal with stigma and discrimination. More importantly, they found encouragement in knowing they were not alone and this empowered them to build confidence to stand up for themselves.

The DHAPP programme is dedicated to supporting adolescents and young people living with HIV through safe spaces that strengthen peer check-ins and collective support towards achieving better health outcomes and U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable).