AYA SRH SERVICE ACCESS PROJECT (ASSAP) BRIEF

The Youth Platform - Services - Business - AYA SRH SERVICE ACCESS PROJECT (ASSAP) BRIEF

AYA SRH Service Access Project (ASSAP) Brief

Problem description

Zambia’s HIV treatment cascade highlights large gaps in HIV testing, particularly among men and adolescents (10-14), and large gaps in VLS, particularly among young adults.

Differentiated HTS strategies to reach untested populations are a key focus for the country. In addition, given that prevalence of VLS among people living with HIV in Zambia is lowest among young people age 15-24 (34% among women and 35.7% among men), there is urgent need for younger cohorts to receive focused and tailored adherence support.

Project description

The Project’s overall GOAL is to increase access to SRHR/HIV services and strengthen the capacity of adolescents and young adults (AYA) to hold service providers accountable for improved quality of SRH and HIV-related services for AYA through the use of an innovative blend of demand creation and social accountability strategies (DC/SA+).

This project will in turn address some of the challenges highlighted above faced by adolescents and young adults. The main objective is to strategically influence
national processes in the area of adolescent and youth health programming.

Effective use of digital platforms; Statistics show that Zambia has a huge mobile phone penetration, it is actually one of the highest in the region. Out of the estimated 17.87 million people, 14.87 million representing 83% have mobile phones and 7.25 million users have internet connectivity representing 41%, of these 2.20 million users are active on social media. It is almost certain that a majority of these users on social media are adolescents and young adults. Therefore, the AYA SRH Service Access Project (ASSAP) shall make use of the TeeWyze social media platform on facebook to provide quality SRHR information, education and linkage to AYA friendly health services. 

Youth Accountability Coalition; ZYP in partnership with the SAT Zambia Youth Hub shall establish a Youth Accountability Coalition (YAC). The YAC shall be the adolescent and youth advocacy engine of the project. The YAC shall use the project findings in all the youth led advocacy work at national level. This structure will provide a platform for training and mentorship of young advocates in order to ensure that adolescents and young adults have an effective voice on issues that affect their heath and rights.  

  1. To increase access to youth friendly SRH and HIV services for adolescents and young adults in Zambia by 31st March 2020.
  2. To ensure community research that provides accurate data and evidence to strengthen SRH/HIV programmes delivered for adolescents and young adults in Zambia by 31st March 2020.
  3. To safeguard equal access to comprehensive, rights based and gender
    sensitive SRH/HIV services for adolescents and young adults in Zambia by 31st March 2020
  1. Conduct project planning and orientation meeting
  2. Conduct training of young SRHR champions
  3. Conduct Community Mapping in communities of Choma district.
  4. Orient and link 50 young people in the use of digital platforms for health education and access to services
  5. Conduct Youth led and focused 1 Series of 13 Radio programmes on HIV and SRHR
  6. Conduct SRHR/HIV and GBV awareness sessions in boarding schools.
  7. Conduct monthly AYA weekend clinics - health promotion and GBV awareness sessions in order to increase demand for SRH and HIV services
  8. Conduct social media based SRHR/HIV information and education sessions
  9. Conduct focussed group discussions with adolescents and young adults at health facilities and targeted communities
  10. Conduct key informant interviews with targeted individuals.
  11. Convene monthly Youth Accountability Coalition meetings
  12. Conduct quarterly monitoring visits
  13. Conduct final project review