In partnership with I-TECH, MOHCC, local authorities, and other partners, PZAT is working on the Zimbabwe Technical Assistance Training and Education Centre for Health (Zim-TTECH) project. The project seeks to improve access to friendly services and client-centered care for Key Populations in Harare and aims to improve access to oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of the combination HIV prevention package for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Mazowe District. The project implemented the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) program in Matabeleland North’s four districts namely: Bubi, Lupane, Nkayi, and Tsholotsho. The project works directly with the service providers at the facility level, key populations, and the communities in general to strengthen the linkage and communication between facilities and communities. A comprehensive approach that includes addressing structural, policy, and personnel level barriers to access is employed.
Objectives Building the capacity, skills, and knowledge of health care workers through training and site-level mentoring at health facilities to provide Key Population friendly services Improving the uptake of comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for Key Populations To strengthen psychosocial support for Key Populations in Harare Coverage The program utilizes a peer model where members of the Key Population (called Community Facilitators and Zonal Community Facilitators) mobilize key populations to access HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in the public sector facilities. In Harare, there are 30 Community Facilitators and 3 Zonal Community Facilitators supporting the facilities listed below:
Working with supported health facilities to improve the quality of HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services for Key Populations through site support and other monitoring activities that include routine surveys Demand creation, referral linkages, and client navigation at supported facilities Conducting HIV, SRH literacy, and distribution of condoms, lubricants, and HIV Self-Test kits among Key Populations Increasing uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis services through training, technical assistance, and client support Supporting client-centered mental health services and other psychosocial support initiatives for key populations Conducting community outreaches in Key Population safe spaces to provide HIV services and link them to HIV testing and treatment services as well as partner testing and tracking of patients lost to follow-up Routine community hotspot mapping to allow real-time program monitoring to support acceptable and responsive interventions Supporting differentiated service delivery for Key Populations through multi-month refills and Community ART Refill Groups Supporting Key Population engagement at the community level through support and technical assistance to Key Populations Facility Monitoring Committees KP Facility Monitoring Committees work with facility management and with community partners to represent key population communities on matters relating to their health and health services.
Objectives To improve access to oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as part of the combination HIV prevention package for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mazowe District. To increase uptake, continuation, and effective use of oral PrEP through client-centered, acceptable, and differentiated service delivery models To build the capacity of health facilities to provide client-centered oral PrEP in the context of DREAMS initiatives Coverage A total of 28 public health facilities (3 hospitals and 25 clinics) offer oral PrEP in the Mazowe district. At these sites, health care workers were trained on youth-friendly service provision. The program utilizes a peer lead model which has members from different population groups called PrEP Champions. These PrEP Champions are community-based individuals who serve as links between communities and facilities. Their major objective is to raise oral PrEP awareness and create demand for service uptake. The following sites are offering PrEP in the district;
Working with supported health facilities to improve the quality of HIV prevention services and support AGYW and other population groups through routine site support and mentorship. Demand creation, referral linkages, and client navigation at supported facilities. PrEP treatment literacy sessions reaching out to AGYW and other population groups. Increasing uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis services through training, technical assistance, and client support. Improving PrEP access through differentiated service delivery for AGYW and other populations through integrated outreaches with MoHCC, and ZimTTECH. Collaborative activities with DREAMS partners in the district Support group formations. To date, 5 support groups have been formed. Routine adherence and continuation support to PrEP clients.
During the year a total of 48 treatment literacy sessions were conducted in Mazowe (30) and Harare (18). A total of 1,932 individuals were reached with treatment literacy messages in Mazowe (1,593AGYW) and Harare 339KPs (209 females and 130 males). The purpose of the treatment literacy sessions is to raise awareness of oral PrEP and create demand for uptake of services.