Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development commemorates World AIDS Day. For nearly 20 years, USAID has played a critical role in fighting HIV, and since 2003 has been a leader in implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped over a dozen high disease burden countries stabilize or decrease their HIV epidemics. However, we know there is still work to be done, particularly with girls and young women. At a historic time when controlling the HIV epidemic is within reach, it is critical that our programs continue to effectively engage adolescent girls and young women in HIV prevention programming.
Gcinile, a 21-year-old from Eswatini, had heard the common misconceptions about the HIV prevention medicine known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) from her friends. Despite the fact that PrEP is one of the most effective methods for preventing HIV, she was told by her peers that PrEP would cause her to gain weight. But, because Gcinile had been regularly attending DREAMS sessions hosted by USAID local partner World Vision(link is external), Gcinile knew that PrEP was a safe and effective option for protecting her and her baby against HIV.
The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) Program is a youth-oriented, public-private partnership designed to reduce the transmission of HIV in 16 countries while protecting, empowering, and investing in adolescent girls and young women.
Gcinile is one of 6,000 girls currently enrolled in the DREAMS program in the Southern Eswatini region.
“Misconceptions and myths about PrEP and family planning are common in this area of Eswatini,” said Happiness Mkhatshwa, World Vision Project Director. “Our PrEP ambassadors are critical for addressing myths and providing key information to their peers.”
Girls that are part of the DREAMS program regularly attend sessions where they learn about HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and financial independence. When Gncilie became part of the DREAMS program, she immediately took advantage of the sessions and was able to receive PrEP and learned about family planning options. Gcinile also took part in the economic strengthening services that the DREAMS program provided and joined a group of 12 other DREAMS participants to start a chicken egg laying business. The DREAMS program provided the young women with more than 50 chickens for their small business. The young women are now successfully selling the eggs to nearby schools and communities door-to-door.
Photo Credit: World Vision
“With the chicken laying business, I am able to take care of myself and my baby. I can now afford to buy toiletries and things I couldn’t buy before,” she said.
Last year, Gcinile was asked to serve as a PrEP ambassador for the DREAMS program. In this role, she regularly talks to other young women about the benefits of PrEP. Through this role, Gcinile has attended international virtual conferences on HIV/AIDS and has connected with other young women from around the world who are also working to prevent HIV in their communities.
Photo Credit: World Vision
“I tell the girls not on PrEP that as a young woman, you are at risk for HIV if you are dating someone who has multiple partners. PrEP can help keep you safe from HIV,” Gcinile says.
Gcinile talks about PrEP at home too and says she has encouraged her sister to learn more about PrEP. “I enjoy my role as a PrEP Ambassador because I have gotten to connect with so many young women. I encourage other young women to join the DREAMS program in their community because we are learning how to take care of ourselves,” she says.