** The AIDS Coalition wants to acknowledge the erasaure of members of the ACB community from our history as it pertains to HIV activism. Despite often being at the front of many movements, members of the ACB community were left behind as progress was being made and supports were being established, as they still are when we consider HIV/AIDS "a white gay men's disease." We will continue to work to bring awareness to the importance of a history of HIV activism that includes the ACB community and work to support members of this community who are at risk of and living with HIV. **
A recent report on HIV in Nova Scotia provided the first comprehensive snapshot of surveillance data related to race, gender, ethnicity and HIV. The report demonstrated that African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities account for the second largest race/ethnicity group, at about 10%, of all cases of HIV in Nova Scotia.
The report also revealed that 40% of these cases were in women, which is higher than the overall percentage of female cases. Since ACB communities account for a small percentage of the overall population, this statistic is significant. We believe that creating partnerships with local ACB-serving organizations and community groups is the best way for our communities to address these issues and to deliver resources and information directly to those at risk.
Programming
We provide HIV /STI prevention information directly through one on one sessions in person or over the phone, as well as to organizations and health-related professionals that work with our local ACB communities. This may take the form of outreach, informational counselling and support, or formal workshops and presentations.
Creating Supportive Environments
In 2013, through partnership with the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO), Health Association of African Canadians, African Diaspora Association of the Maritimes, Association of Black Social Workers, North End Community Health Center, AIDS Coalition of Cape Breton, Northern AIDS Connection Society and the Nova Scotia Advisory Commission on AIDS, we adapted ACCHO’s Keep it Alive Campaign for our local ACB communities across Nova Scotia. Our goal with the campaign was to start a conversation, reduce the stigma associated with talking about HIV and create a more supportive environment around HIV in our Nova Scotian communities.
For more information about our work contact the Support Coordinator at 902.425.4882, ext 226 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://acns.ns.ca/item/74-the-keep-it-alive-campaign.html
The Keep it Alive Campaign
http://haac.ca/
Health Association of African Canadians
http://adamns.ca/
African Diaspora Association of the Maritimes
http://www.nsabsw.ca
Association of Black Social Workers
http://www.accho.ca/en/HIV-Information
African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO)
http://www.icad-cisd.com/our-work/canadian-hivaids-black-african-and-caribbean-network-chabac/
Canadian HIV/AIDS Black, African and Caribbean (CHABAC) Network
pdf
Keep it Alive
(1.45 MB)
ACNS Keep it Alive Campaign - Posters