Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) is an approach to help improve the quality of lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV). The approach calls for a shared responsibility for HIV prevention to counter the stigma and blame attached to HIV transmission and starts with the rights and wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLHIV).

It builds on the Greater Involvement of PLHIV (GIPA) Principle. The GIPA Principle was forty-two (42) countries (including Zimbabwe) agreed in the greater involvement of PLHIV the designing, implantation and monitoring of HIV policies and programmes at all levels in Paris in 1994. Over the years the programme was later adopted as the Meaningful Involvement of PLHIV (MIPA). Zimbabwe adopted the MIPA principle in 2004.

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) is about finding a way for us to live full and contented lives with dignity-free from stigma. It gives us a set of standards that we can use to ensure PLHIV are treated fairly by their families, communities and institutions. Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) is not only about HIV, it is about all our needs and desires. Finding a way to live a full and content life with dignity free from stress. The key principles are:

• 1. We are more than patients
• 2. We will not be treated as vectors of transmission
• 3. We are all responsible for HIV prevention
• 4. We have needs and desires to be fulfilled

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP):

• Shifts from blaming PLHIV to the idea of sharing responsibility of preventing the further spread of the HIV in our communities
• Moves beyond only focusing on HIV transmission to a more complete view health and wellbeing of PLHIV
• Looks at how HIV prevention, treatment and care link together and support each other
• Puts the human rights of PLHIV first

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) means:

• Empowerment of PLHIV and PLHIV Networks
• Health promotion and access
• Gender Equality
• Human rights
• Prevention of new infections
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
• Social and economic support
• Measuring impact