The development of HIV-related mental health and psychosocial services for children and adolescents in Zambia: The case for learning by doing

Through working with the Zambia MOH, we have forged a national response. This involved training pediatric HIV counselors, play therapy counselors, adult mentors and positive peer mentors, as well as clinicians and volunteers in HIV and early childhood development. We have learned that providing health workers with skills to dialog with HIV-affected children and families in honest and developmentally-sensitive ways yields results. Thousands of children have been reached and improved adherence and acceptance of one's status have been reported. Non-medical services have been developed by busy practitioners to meet glaring clinic gaps using a “learn by doing” approach. More resources are required to scale up these programs and for 'good practice' evidence to be gathered.