Our Work

We built upon the successes and lessons learned during the 2019-2020 Scale up Phase followed by the 2020-2021 Expansion Phase of the Rise Up! Model to maximize our efforts and output moving forward. During the 2021-2022 Impact Phase, we will maintain our nine (9) existing and fully operating sites in Lusaka and the Copperbelt and enhance programming to ensure that HIV positive (HIV+) Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) are the primary focus and that our strategies to reach this population yield the greatest impact.

We will continue to improve the quality and accessibility of youth friendly services (YFS), engage and retain in care all known and to be identified HIV+ AGYW, improve linkages to HIV testing with enhanced referral and follow-up processes, shift ARV distribution for stable HIV+ AGYW to the community (Rise Up! House and Youth Friendly Spaces), offer psychosocial support and quality PrEP services, and continue to work closely with community partners and stakeholders.

Rise Up! Impact has been implemented to maximize our focus on service delivery within the catchment area of the following clinical sites:

Starting in October 2021, the Charles R. Dew University (CDU) team initiated Rise Up! Which strengthened the collaboration with members of the Zambian Ministry of Health and the Medical Superintendents of General Hospitals in Lusaka, Facility In-Charges for clinics on the Copperbelt and the Global Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Consortium. For the primary benefit of the HIV positive AGYW, we enhanced our reach and initiated collaboration with other HIV specialists, Neighborhood Health Committee (NHC) Leaders, Technical Working Groups, DREAMS, Schools, and community focused organizations.

Clinic-Based Arm:

Community-Based Arm:

During the Rise Up! Impact phase, we maintained our 5 Rise Up! houses and 9 Youth Friendly Services in Lusaka and Copperbelt. The aim is by September 30, 2022, approximately 95% of AGYW enrolled in the Rise Up! Programs at all nine (9) sites will be retained in care, on ART, and virally suppressed. This will be evidenced by an increased awareness, utilization of PrEP services, counseling among AGYW linked to Rise Up! Facilities. This will also be evidenced by a strengthened system of referral between Rise Up!

and DREAMS to increase the proportion of HIV+ AGYW enrolled in Rise Up! and track the number of HIV negative girls referred to DREAMS. Ultimately, health care workers will benefit from an improved capacity to meet the needs of AGYW in terms of mental health, gender-based violence, community engagement, and effective clinical and wrap around service delivery. These outcomes will demonstrate the effectiveness of the Rise Up! Model to improve adherence and retention in care among AGYW living with HIV in Zambia.

Objective 1:

Maintain 5 Houses & Hospital Linkages*- Lusaka (Chawama, Chilenje, Kanyama, Matero) and Copperbelt (Chimwemwe, Chipokota Mayamba, Ipusukilo, Buchi & New Masala)

Objective 2:

Maintain support of Youth Friendly Spaces in 9 health facilities (4 in Lusaka and 5 in Copperbelt)

Objective 3:

Provide linkage to PrEP Services and Counseling in a private setting for HIV- AGYW.