The Child-Aid Mongu, a project that aims at improving the health, welfare and living conditions of vulnerable adolescents and children infected with or directly affected by HIV/AIDS has supported 951 children and adolescents.

The project that also builds the capacity in the guardians and caregivers so they have the ability to improve their care and support is been implemented since November, 2020.

The improved care has resulted in viral load suppression in 795 children and adolescents, putting them on a path to a health life. This has been achieved through case workers who make monthly visits to children and their families, including accompanying them to health centers if need be.

The project has utilized the ‘Trio’ model, which is a treatment support group consisting of three (3) people. 1 who is the HIV positive child and 2 treatment supporters, the guardian and a neighbor. Buddies have been trained in 811 TRIO’s in order to give daily adherence support to the children.

The project has formed 16 Teen Clubs aimed at engaging adolescents and teens who are on ART treatment by involving them in activities that promote awareness of positive and healthy living. Teen clubs also help to ensure those on ART are adherent to treatment and reduce chances of teenage involvement in illicit behavior that is likely to affect their health and adherence to treatment.

The Teen Clubs further promote peer-to-peer interaction, helping to improve acceptance of their condition.

We ensure that support garnered for children is directed to families to put them in a position to provide treatment to all who need it and enable affected Children and Adolescents to cared for by those who love and feel responsible for them.

The project is currently providing education bursaries to 126 Children and Adolescents to get in schools, as education is an effective tool to reduce the social and economic vulnerabilities that often come with living with or been directly affected by HIV/AIDS.

To improve the resilience of families, the project is utilizing various initiatives such as WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), gardening, nutrition groups, saving clubs and education. 83 saving clubs among the families are helping them better manage their finances.

Families have been provided with pass on gifts of small livestock (Goats and Chickens) to promote basic economic security which relieves distress and enables them to continue investing in the health care and education of their children. The pass-on gifts are accompanied with training and mentoring facilitated by project staff.