Nourishing Adolescent Health Through Simple, Local Fruit Choices.

Adolescence is a time of growth and transition. For adolescents and young people living with HIV, it also comes with added challenges such as understanding lifelong treatment, navigating stigma, relying on caregivers, and learning to take ownership of their health.

At PriCHO, we believe thriving with HIV goes beyond taking daily medication. It requires confidence, strong support systems, and attention to everyday factors such as nutrition that influence treatment outcomes and long-term wellbeing.

PriCHO delivers cohort-based programming for adolescents and young people aged 10-24 years, recognizing that a 10-year-old beginning to understand treatment has very different needs from a 19- or 23-year-old who is balancing school, work, relationships and independence. While needs change across age groups, our goal remains the same: to ensure sustained engagement in care and a healthy transition into adulthood.

Our adolescent and youth programming is anchored in the Kids to Care model - Find, Test, Treat, and Retain. For adolescents, retention is often the most fragile point in the HIV care continuum, easily disrupted by stigma, treatment fatigue, limited disclosure and weak support systems.

This approach was recently brought to life during the support group meeting with our 10-14 year-old cohort, a critical age where habits and understanding are being formed. The session intentionally highlighted the role of nutrition in HIV treatment and overall health and well-being.

Instead of the usual drinks and packaged snacks, we shared locally grown fruits with adolescents living with HIV. This deliberate choice demonstrated our commitment to promoting healthy, accessible nutrition within the community. More than a refreshment, the fruits symbolized how healthy choices can colour young lives nourishing the body, strengthening treatment outcomes, and reminding adolescents that good nutrition can be simple, local and empowering.

The session blended structure with play, creating a relaxed and supportive environment. Through guided discussions, participants explored how consistent ART adherence suppresses the virus, how disclosure to trusted adults strengthens support and how nutrition enhances good health and wellbeing.

At the end of the session, one participant reflected; “When I take my medicine 💊 and eat well 🍎, I feel strong 💪.”

Adolescents and young people remain among the most vulnerable populations in HIV care. By integrating clinical services, psychosocial support and nutrition education, PriCHO strengthens confidence and improves retention in care a critical driver of long-term health.

With the support of donors and partners, PriCHO continues to deliver nutrition sensitive, adolescent-friendly HIV programming that turns care into confidence and confidence into lifelong health.