The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it has embarked on a transformative agenda aimed at dismantling what it describes as the “Triangle of Harm” affecting adolescents and young people in Zambia.
Speaking at
the Gender and Faith in the Delivery of Health Symposium, UNFPA Regional Director Lydia Zigomo said the initiative is driven by the urgent need to confront the intersecting risks of adolescent pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as gender-based violence (GBV), including child marriage.
Ms. Zigomo said the “Triangle of Harm” continues to undermine the potential of young people and directly affects human capital development among nearly half of Zambia’s youth population.
She noted that faith communities remain central to Zambia’s social support system, providing up to 40 percent of health services and 25 percent of the country’s educational infrastructure.
According to Ms. Zigomo, the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), through its 162 member institutions, often serves as the first and sometimes only point of assistance for people living in rural and underserved communities.
She stressed that UNFPA’s 2026–2029 strategy recognizes the critical role of faith leaders in ending preventable maternal deaths, addressing unmet needs for family planning, and combating the Triangle of Harm.
“The triangle traps generations of young Zambians in cycles of poverty, suffering, and unrealised potential,” she said, adding that faith actors are on the frontline of responding to challenges faced daily by adolescent girls and boys.
Ms. Zigomo also highlighted the launch of the Faith Leaders Messaging Guide, describing it as the outcome of extensive collaboration involving ZINGO, the Population Council, and various faith-based mother bodies.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Kennedy Lishimpi reaffirmed Government’s commitment to an evidence-based and youth-centred response to adolescent health challenges.
Dr. Lishimpi said Government interventions are guided by the National Adolescent Health Strategic Plan (2022–2026), which prioritises adolescent sexual and reproductive health, HIV and STI prevention, as well as prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence.
He explained that Government is strengthening adolescent- and youth-friendly health services that are accessible, confidential, respectful, and responsive to the needs of young people.
Dr. Lishimpi added that authorities are also expanding adolescent-friendly spaces to provide counselling, information, referrals, and psychosocial support.
He further noted that targeted HIV prevention programmes for adolescents and women are being intensified through youth-friendly platforms designed to improve access to testing, counselling, prevention, and treatment services.
The Permanent Secretary said school-based initiatives such as Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE) remain critical in equipping learners with age-appropriate and gender-sensitive information that promotes healthy decision-making and reduces vulnerability to early pregnancies and other social harms.
Dr. Lishimpi added that Government, working with partners, continues to support integrated service delivery models such as Gender-Based Violence One-Stop Centres, which offer coordinated medical, psychosocial, and referral services for survivors of violence.
He said efforts are also underway to strengthen trauma-informed care and mental health support through continued training and capacity building for service providers.
By Samuel Mbewe
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