DREAMS program reducing HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women in Shinyanga

Agnes William, at the age of 23 years, has already faced more challenges than most people her age.

Growing up in Ushetu district, Shinyanga region, Agnes was diagnosed with HIV as a young girl. After her mother passed away, she had to navigate the complexities of living with the virus on her own.

Despite the support of her local health clinic and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), Agnes struggled to adhere to her medication. The daily regimen of pills, combined with the stigma surrounding HIV in her community jeopardized her adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The resulting multiple treatment interruptions led to viral non-suppression and increased her risk of developing drug resistance, which further threatened her health.

“For a long time, my father gave me the medication without disclosing my HIV status. As a result, I frequently skipped my medication until I became extremely ill,” she recalled.

Despite these challenges, Agnes pursued her education and graduated from college in 2021.

In 2022, she joined the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) program, an initiative implemented by THPS under the PEPFAR/CDC Afya Hatua project, which seeks to empower adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to make healthier choices.

The DREAMS program offers mentorship, educational support, and access to community resources to reduce the risk of HIV transmission and improve the overall well-being of AGYW. Through this initiative, Agnes learned the importance of adhering to ART and achieved viral suppression for the first time.

Now, as a DREAMS Ambassador at Ukune Health Centre in her home district, Agnes educates her peers about HIV prevention, ART adherence, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

In 2024 alone, she helped link nine AGYWs into PrEP services and 75 into family planning. Through her outreach and advocacy, Agnes is transforming lives for the better, proving that with the right support, resilience leads to empowerment.

Through her efforts, she has fostered a sense of solidarity and empowerment among AGYW in Shinyanga, turning their shared experiences of hardship into opportunities for growth and resilience.

“Through these outreach activities, we identify AGYW in risky environments and offer them PrEP. We also refer them to nearby clinics for family planning services. Those who test HIV positive are immediately linked to care and treatment clinics, and we support them in their treatment adherence,” Agnes said.