Over 70% of women living with HIV in UK are Black African – The Voice Online
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER: The community march for change
WORLDWIDE THERE are 75 million HIV/AIDS cases, with *107,000 in the UK.
Over 70 per cent of women living with HIV in the UK are black African, and one in eight men who have sex with men in London hasHIV. This is totally unacceptable. The Safer Partnership challenges these statistics through HIV prevention work in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, which have two of the highest diagnosed rates of HIV in the UK.
Ignorance and fear are the main drivers of HIV transmission and stigma.
World AIDS Dayis about remembrance, support, and unity, but it is also about renewing a commitment to be the champions of our own sexual health; reflecting on our own levels of knowledge, behaviours, and responsibilities.
We can defeat HIV. It is now a manageable condition but early testing is essential. Testing is free, private and confidential, and only takes a few minutes – and it could save your life!
The Safer Partnership charities – Africa Advocacy Foundation (AAF), Ethnic Health Foundation (EHF), NAZ, and SHAKA – are all small black led charities. We do outreach in our local black communities and to faith communities. Our work includes providing one-to-one and group support for people living with HIV and those affected by HIV.
PASSIONATE: Vernal Scott, Sexual Health Coordinator and author of God’s Other Children: A London Memoir
We also provide training, education, rapid HIV testing, and condom distribution to African, Asian, and Caribbean communities. Whether heterosexual, gay, or bisexual, we can definitely help you, so please get in touch.
On behalf of the Safer Partnership, Vernal Scott, Sexual Health Coordinator, said: “I have been working on these issues since the 1980s and advise all black women and men to get tested as soon as possible. Put your mind at rest. Testing is so very quick but it can have life-long implications. If you are HIV positive, then we can start you on life-saving treatment. If you don’t have it, then we can advise you on how to remain that way. HIV does not discriminate, so find out your status and take control of your health.”
Available at your local GP or GUM clinic
For advice about HIV, testing, and support, please call:
Naz London 020 8741 1879
AAF 020 8698 4473
Shaka Services 020 7735 6744
EHF 0207 407 6588
Email: vernal@naz.org.uk
An advert by the Safer Partnership, comprising Africa Advocacy Foundation, Ethnic Health Foundation, NAZ, and SHAKA, funded by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham councils.
*Public Health England
Black Communities and HIV – Meeting the Challenge
Monday December 1, 2014
4pm – 7pm
Karibu Centre, 7 Gresham Road, London SW9 7PH
PROGRAMME:
4.05pm Rebecca Brown, PPC – Chair‘s opening remarks
4.10pm Constantia Pennie, SHAKA – Safer Partnership
4.20pm Dr Farhad Cooper, 56 Dean Street – HIV treatments
4.35pm Dennis Carney, PHE strategy re African and BME MSM
4.55pm Parminder Sekhon, NAZ – What is sexual well-being?
5.10pm Comfort break and refreshments
5.25pm Ted Brown – Life beyond diagnosis
5.40pm Thandi Haruperi, RestorEgo – Life beyond diagnosis
6pm Vernal Scott, NAZ – Peer support services
6.15pm Panel – Q and A
6.50pm Agnes Baziwe, AAF – WAD Remembrance – lighting of candles
7pm Hot African/Caribbean food and refreshments
For more information and to buy your tickets to this event, please visit:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-aids-day-black-communities-and-hiv-m…
