Self-Care Month: Young People in the Spotlight
Self-care is not just for personal wellness—it is a form of strength and resilience for young people living with or affected by HIV. As HIV funding contracts globally and service disruptions become a stark reality, self-care becomes an urgent necessity. For young people, this means HIV self-testing, ART adherence, and access to sexual and reproductive health commodities. In healthcare settings increasingly defined by fear, stigma, discrimination, and political restrictions, self-care empowers adolescents and young people to maintain their health —even when they are not getting the support they need.
Across PATA programmes, we are witnessing the effects of these system disruptions firsthand. The USAID funding halt has triggered widespread fear, stockpiling of medication, and missed appointments.
“There will be no antiretrovirals (ARVs), and that has affected our adherence.”
These words from a young person in Zimbabwe are echoed across the READY programme. As highlighted in recent READY updates, youth-led organisations report growing confusion, mental health distress, and disrupted access to essential services like ART and PrEP. Many young people now face the impossible decision of whether to travel long distances to uncertain care or go without treatment entirely—as clinics close and trusted community spaces vanish.
This Self-Care Month—from 24 June to 24 July— You(th) Care partners are spotlighting the urgency of self-care at a time when over 60% of youth-led organisations have had HIV service delivery disrupted, and 100% are searching for alternative funding.
Self-care is not only about staying well—it’s about surviving amid shifting policies and scarce resources. It includes accessing the tools, information, and services available—whether for HIV prevention, testing, contraception, or managing sexual and reproductive health. These are practical ways young people can protect their health and exercise their right to care.
Whether you’re a peer supporter, a healthcare provider, or a friend— Join the You(th) Care partners in this Self-Care Month campaign and help spotlight the power of self-care. Let’s work together to ensure that self-care isn’t just a month-long message—but a sustained movement for youth autonomy, equity, and survival.
Download the Self-Care Month Social Media Toolkit here.
