Listening and sharing experiences

As a child, Ashley Chinduta took antiretroviral medicines without knowing what they were for. Now, 18 years old and living in Gatu township in Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central province, she never fails to take her medication because she knows how important it is for fighting HIV/AIDS. She was born with the infection, as she later learned from health workers. "At the time I didn’t understand what it meant. I was too young. It was my peers and the support group who explained to me what it means to live with HIV," she says.

The SDC provides assistance to the peer support programme in Zimbabwe to improve physical and mental health outcomes for children and young people living with HIV/AIDS. The programme is implemented by the Zvandiri organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Young people aged 18 to 24 who are infected with HIV are mentored by health professionals to assist other young patients. These CATS (Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters) help identify undiagnosed children and adolescents, take them to hospital for counselling, help with treatment uptake and retention and keep an eye on their mental wellbeing.

Chinduta was offered CATS support at the David Nelson Clinic in Muzarabani in northern Zimbabwe when she came to pick up her medicines. "My CATS helped me take the tablets as the nurse had prescribed. She showed me the medicines that she takes herself which instantly gave me confidence. My CATS reminds me when I need to get new medicines and when to go to the clinic to test for my viral load. She also comes to my house to discuss problems that trouble people our age such as questions about sexual and reproductive health," says Chinduta.

Her country has a population of over 16 million, an estimated 1.2 million of which live with HIV. Among these, 16% are younger than 24 years. Young HIV-positive people fare worse than adults in health and psychosocial terms when it comes to HIV care. The reasons for this are perceived and experienced stigma and discrimination, challenges related to emerging sexuality as well as concerns about relationships, childbearing and marriage. On top of that, the public health system is weak which is primarily due to the lack of adequate resources. Hence, the programme also promotes capacity building for health workers on HIV and social protection. "The goal is to create a better environment for children and young people who live with the virus," says Rumbidzai Matewe, SDC programme manager for health. “Future CATS – all of whom are volunteers – receive training with updated information about HIV and social protection for children and adolescents. Psychosocial health, climate change and sexual and reproductive health are also covered,” she adds.

21-year-old William Ncube completed the training last November. He wanted to support people like himself: "I help them cope with the challenges of everyday life. Now I can advise them at home, at the clinic, in the support group or over the phone. I know how important it is to take ownership and accept my HIV infection. In January, I told my girlfriend that I am HIV-positive," says the young man who lives in Lukosi in the western part of the country.

Ncube is an orphan and has lived with HIV since birth. "I was tested in 2007 and started on antiretroviral therapy (ART). At the time, I was told it was against headaches. In 2014, my grandmother and a health worker told me about my HIV infection," he continues.

"I feel happy that I am able to help others who are in a similar situation, and I enjoy doing it. My biggest challenge is the distances I occasionally have to travel to reach my patients." Some live about 20km away from the hospital. Ncube then rides the bicycle he received from the programme. "People need a lot of information which they can get through flyers or lectures by experts," he observes.

Ashley Chinduta especially appreciates the information she receives from the CATS and the experiences they share. Although her viral load was already very high, she noticed how her physical and mental condition improved. She knows when to take her medicines and makes sure she takes them every day. "I no longer have to cope with my life alone, we help each other. When a CATS visited my family, it allowed me to talk openly about HIV issues with my parents and siblings. I am now in the prime of my life. The sky is the limit for my dreams."