CDU Visits Rise Up! Project Site in Zambia
The Office of International Affairs and members of CDU’s technical staff visited Zambia, representing the US-base of the Rise Up! Project. The purpose of the visit was to complete the aims of the PEPFAR funded grant to deliver Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) services and psychosocial support to adolescent girls and young women in Zambia.
Some of the goals of the visit were to enhance project planning, implementation, capacity building and management and to execute the CDU Advantage focusing on the International-Global Health Experience pillar.
The Rise Up! Project is culturally sensitive, clinical, and community-based programming offered for both HIV-positive and negative adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The objective of the Rise Up! Project includes improving linkages to and retention in HIV care and treatment for over 25,000 HIV-positive females in five General Hospitals in Lusaka as well as five Clinics on the Copperbelt that is Kitwe and Ndola.
Intervention activities included partnerships with community organizations, government facilities, local Gender Based Violence networks, local hospitals, and church leaders. HIV testing and US agencies implement youth friendly HIV Peer Navigation services that efficiently link newly diagnosed HIV-positive adolescent girls and young women to HIV care, treatment, and psychosocial support at the Rise Up! Houses.