The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), through its CDC-sponsored PROUD Z project, recently held a one-day meeting with Lusaka Provincial Health Office (LPHO) under the Ministry of Health and district stakeholders to enhance the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss and develop strategies for effectively implementing a Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) model in pregnant AGYW, which would improve retention rates in the PMTCT cascade.

The event focused on a comprehensive review of the HIV burden among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Lusaka Province, highlighting key PMTCT indicators in this high-risk group.

A plenary session provided a detailed review of the DSD model for pregnant AGYW, offering insights into its potential to improve access to care, reduce barriers to treatment, and ensure better health outcomes.

Additionally, participants engaged in a dynamic brainstorming session on implementation strategies to enhance PMTCT services, focusing on data-driven decision-making through Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes.

During the meeting, LPHO Chief Nursing Officer Inutu Mbangweta Muzungu emphasised the critical role of stakeholder collaboration in improving adolescent-friendly services and ensuring the success of health initiatives like the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.

“LPHO supports this initiative and encourages further collaborations from all stakeholders to strengthen adolescent-friendly services in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” she said.

And CIDRZ PMTCT Medical Mentor Dr Chimwemwe Zulu highlighted the urgency of addressing the HIV burden among AGYW.

“The high burden of HIV among adolescent girls and young women demands urgent efforts and tailored antenatal care and PMTCT services to address the barriers this population faces in accessing care,” she said.