Copper Rose Zambia recently made a significant impact at the prestigious 2025 INTEREST Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, with 2024-2025 AVAC Fellow and Senior Program Officer Rhoda Msiska leading the charge.

Rhoda’s active participation as both a presenter and panelist underscored Copper Rose Zambia’s commitment to innovative, youth-centered approaches in HIV prevention.

In a special session titled ‘Re-Imagining PrEP Delivery,’ Rhoda highlighted the critical need for youth-driven delivery models, ensuring equitable access to prevention tools, and emphasizing the power of tailored communication strategies.

Her insights, drawn from Copper Rose Zambia’s extensive on-the-ground experience, resonated deeply with attendees seeking practical solutions to complex health challenges. Rhoda also presented a compelling poster abstract on ‘Characterising Key Concerns from Communities on Upcoming HIV prevention Options: The Case of the Dual Prevention Pill (DPP) in Zambia.’ This work sheds light on crucial community perspectives that are essential for the successful introduction of new prevention technologies.

The conference served as a pivotal platform for advancing the global conversation on HIV prevention. Key takeaways from the discussions included:

• Integrated Approaches: A strong emphasis on integrating treatment, prevention, and community perspectives to advocate for services that genuinely respond to the real needs of young women, who frequently encounter stigma, structural barriers, and limited options.
• Community-Centric Access: Strategies for bringing new prevention options, such as CAB (Cabotegravir), LEN (Lenacapavir), and DPP, closer to the community, alongside discussions on how policy shifts can effectively reduce access barriers for youth, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas.
• Youth Engagement & Ownership: A renewed commitment from Ministries of Health and key partners to actively involve youth in the design, delivery, and evaluation of HIV prevention programs, recognizing their invaluable role as agents of change.

Copper Rose Zambia’s presence at the 2025 INTEREST Conference reinforces its position at the forefront of youth-led and youth-centered development and health advocacy in Zambia and across the region.