Zimbabwe HIV Care and Treatment (ZHCT) Mechanism

Award Information

Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI) implemented the FHI 360-led Zimbabwe HIV Care and Treatment (ZHCT) Mechanism including the DREAMS program as a subgrantee from October of 2020 to September 2021. The ZHCT mechanism was funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Zimbabwe. Between September 24^th, 2015, to January 31^st, 2022, the FHI 360 mechanism contributed significantly to the national HIV and AIDS response in Zimbabwe, of which the overall goal was to increase availability and quality of comprehensive HIV care and treatment (C&T) services, towards the national achievement of HIV epidemic control. These initial objectives contributed to that goal:

1.  Increase the availability of quality comprehensive C&T services for HIV-positive persons at community level; and
2. Strengthen community-level health systems to monitor, track and retain persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in care.

Then from October 1^st, 2017, it incorporated the Zimbabwe Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS- Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) project. The DREAMS project aimed to reduce new HIV infections amongst adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 10-24 years, including both school-based and community-based interventions, anchored on layering of services. Its strategic objectives were as follows:

1. Through a holistic leadership program, empower adolescents and youth adopt healthy lifestyle practices that reduce new HIV infection and promote healthy living.
2. Address socio-cultural, religious, and legal barriers that increase vulnerability to HIV and impede access to services for adolescents and youths in Zimbabwe.

ZHI implemented, the C&T component of the award was implemented in nine districts first in Manicaland and then Midlands, while DREAMS activities were conducted in twelve districts across five provinces (Manicaland, Midlands, Bulawayo, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South). Under the ZHCT Mechanism, ZHI provided both technical assistance (TA) and direct service delivery (DSD) to complement the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s (MOHCC’s) response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. The DREAMS program was implemented in close collaboration with various implementing partners (IPs) via subawards. ZHI through this mechanism provided TA and support to the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) for the COVID-19 pandemic response.