In Malawi, the lack of adolescent- friendly health services and social stigma deter HIV positive adolescents from accessing vocational education and the labour market. APZU's redesigned curriculum for teen health facilities enables them to do just that.
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8.9%
Malawi has one of the highest HIV infection rates worldwide.[1]
Malawi
is in the Top 10 poorest countries in the world.[2]
Neno District
has the highest HIV rates in the country.[3]
"Today I am alive and I live a healthy life till now, because of the consistency of drugs and advice provided to us at Teen Club."
Our Commitment
The project ASPIRE, supported by Julius Baer Foundation and implemented by Partners in Health's local organisation APZU (Abwenzi Pa Za Umayo, which is the Malawian translation of Partners in Health, provides adequate medical antiretroviral treatment and educates vulnerable adolescents in their HIV Teen Clubs in the district of Neno with the goal of improving the adolescents' economic opportunities. It does so by:
- redesigning the teen club curriculum in close collaboration with various government ministries to include:
- medical care, healthy lifestyles and stigmas, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with special emphasis on sexual and gender-based violence;
- financial and computer literacy and other forms of vocational training, which had not been present in previous curricula
- thus, its equips marginalised 10-to 19-years-olds with medical care and the skills and network to realise their potential.
A medical, educational, and social cure for inequalities
Malawi has one of the highest HIV infection rates worldwide (8.9%)
Assisting HIV-positive adolescents over a long time, APZU has observed that the youths' challenges go beyond physical health.
Their pyschophysical condition and the lack of required wealth lead to meagre school participation.
Due to HIV stigmatisation, adolescent patients' adherence to medication stays low, hindering them from realising their full potential, participating in the labour market and gaining social mobility.
As a result, the wealth divide in the area is deepened, making wealth inequality one of the drives of the HIV epidemic in sub- Saharan Africa.
The economic burden of HIV rest upon the disadvantaged for generations.
In collaboration with the Julius Baer Foundation, APZU aims for a holistic approach to break the vicious cycle between HIV and wealth inequality.
The redesigned curriculum will mentor the adolescents more comprehensively, empowering them through healthcare, skill training and networking.
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[1] Source: National Statistical Office. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-2016. Zomba, Malawi and Rockville, Maryland, USA (2017)
[2] Source: Malawi and the IMF
[3] Source: National Statistical Office. Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2015-2016. Zomba, Malawi and Rockville, Maryland, USA (2017)
