Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and partners have recognized and recommended the need to scale up the Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS) model that has for the past five years increased access to HIV/Aids information, treatment and care among young Rwandans.
The CATS model, a youth led program, was adopted from the Zvandiri program in Zimbabwe and introduced in Rwanda in 2019 through a partnership between RBC, Dream Village Rwanda- a local Nongovernmental organization.
Zvandiri program- a peer-driven adolescent HIV care model has been recognized as a best practice program by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This model aims to transform the lives of young people through peer connections, health services, community outreach, psychosocial and mental healthcare support; capacity-strengthening programs, and advocacy initiatives.
With technical assistance from Zvandiri, Dream Village Rwanda provides a package (CATS Model) of differentiated services for children, adolescents and young people living with HIV so that they know, understand, and accept their HIV status.