Community Peer Educators contribute to increased uptake of HIV prevention services among at-risk groups in Kasulu

Shukran Japhari is a Community Peer Educator in Kasulu Town, Kigoma region. She works diligently to ensure that at-risk girls and young women in her area receive comprehensive HIV prevention services.

Trained through the PEPFAR/CDC Afya Hatua project implemented by THPS, Shukran helps to promote HIV prevention, counselling, testing, and family planning services. This training enhanced her confidence in engaging the targeted groups with whom she shares experiences within her community.

As a result of this initiative, the number of adolescent girls and young women enrolled in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services at the Kasulu Town Council (TC) Hospital has significantly increased, rising from 13 in September 2022 to 33 by May 2024.

Joanitha Deogratius, one of the young women enrolled in PrEP services through an outreach initiative in February 2023, shared her experience:

“Before meeting the community peer educators, I was ignorant of the risk of HIV infection I was facing. I’m happy to be part of the PrEP program, which keeps me safe from HIV….”

Omary Mohammed, the Care and Treatment Clinic Officer-in-charge at the Kasulu TC Hospital, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by THPS through the PEPFAR/CDC Afya Hatua Project.

He noted that the training had equipped community peer educators with the skills needed to reach at-risk girls and young women with vital HIV services.

“The efforts of the community peer educators in providing health education have significantly increased health service-seeking behaviour among adolescent girls and young women in Kasulu. Unlike in the past, we now have more girls seeking PrEP services at our facility,” he stated.

Between July 2023 and June 2024, the project facilitated the provision of HIV prevention services to 1,225 adolescent girls and young women in Kasulu TC. This included PrEP services for 342 individuals, HIV self-test kits for 571 individuals, and gender-based violence screenings for 1,225 individuals.