Children are the foundation of sustainable development. The first years of life are a critical period for cognitive, psychosocial and physical development. Despite an increased international interest in child development, representative data on child development is still remarkably scarce, particularly from Sub-Saharan Africa. In terms of HIV/AIDS, you find that many children are cared for by an ill parent, older siblings, grandparents, relatives, or neighbours increasing the stresses already experienced by families living in poverty and putting young children at greater risk. The ECD program addresses the needs of young children while equipping their caregivers and communities to support their healthy development. HIV/AIDS-related stigma still goes on in rural settings in Zambia. Stigmatization is abundant, ranging from subtle actions to the most extreme degradation, rejection and abandonment. Women with HIV and pregnant women assumed to be HIV positive are repeatedly subjected to extensive forms of stigma, particularly once they become sick or if their child dies. Despite increasing access to prevention of mother to child transmission initiatives, including anti-retroviral drugs, the perceived disincentives of HIV testing, particularly for women, largely outweigh the potential gains from available treatments. Some do not wish to know their HIV status and others blame it down to witchcraft / black magic. Young people are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) due to their social and health needs. Thus, the need to target them for sexual health promotion before they fall prey to sexual health/HIV as vulnerability is crucial. Therefore, there is clear evidence for the need of this service to promote good sexual health for young people. It has also been noticed that many young people have not been involved and specifically targeted with HIV prevention and sexual health messages. This leads to the target group being misinformed as a result and many of them become pregnant prematurely, infected with Chlamydia and HIV.DMH is developing a comprehensive peer training programme for the young people to be equipped with accurate information for self-protection and safety, such as:

• Peer education is effective in increasing awareness of HIV and sexual health information and shaping people’s attitudes and behaviour change.
• Our Peer Educators act as supporters and contacts between service providers and the target population.
• Peer education is interactive and applicable to a variety of groups and situations.
• Our Peer educators help to sustain the prevention programme after the completion of the training programme.
• Our peer educators encourage individual community involvement and they take responsibility for their well-being.

This programme enables a cross session of the community to be well informed on relevant health issues.