Local Leaders Step Up the Fight Against HIV and Adolescent Pregnancies in Katete and Monze

Local Leaders Step Up the Fight Against HIV and Adolescent Pregnancies in Katete and Monze

Momentum is building across Eastern and Southern Zambia as key community leaders rally behind the national call to protect adolescents from HIV, early pregnancies, and gender-based violence.

Under the Reducing Adolescent Pregnancies and New HIV Infections in Zambia (RAPHIZ) initiative, community dialogues have sparked powerful conversations, first in Katete, and now continuing in Monze, bringing together traditional leaders, Councillors, religious leaders, and devolved departments, alongside young people, in a shared commitment to change.

Spearheaded by UNAIDS, in collaboration with the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders Initiative for Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL) and the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC), the dialogues are creating safe spaces for communities to confront deep-rooted social norms and barriers that hinder adolescents’ access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV prevention, and GBV services.

With Zambia’s HIV prevalence at 9.8% among adults aged 15–49, and rural districts like Katete and Monze facing rising cases of adolescent pregnancies and new HIV infections, the urgency to act has never been greater.

Traditional, religious, and political leaders are stepping up, reaffirming their role as protectors and influencers within their communities. The discussions have not only shed light on challenges but also inspired collective action plans tailored to local realities, ensuring that adolescents and young people have the support, information, and services they need to thrive.

As the RAPHIZ dialogues continue to gain traction, one message is clear: when communities lead, change is lasting.

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