Menu HIV-SAM Project · Africans against HIV

Promotion of HIV testing

Our main goal in the promotion of HIV testing in Sub-Saharan African communities in Flanders is early diagnosis of HIV and timely access to care. More than half of Sub-Saharan Africans living with HIV (52%) received their HIV diagnosis late (CD4<350cells/µl or AIDS symptoms within three months after the HIV diagnosis). This delay in diagnosis results in:

  • delayed access to treatment,
  • (probably) more severe medical consequences of the HIV-infection
  • an increased risk of HIV transmission

An early diagnosis of HIV benefits patients and is at the same time an effective way to stop the spread of HIV.

Recent research has also shown that many Sub-Saharan African migrants living with HIV may not know their HIV status. The TOGETHER study, conducted in Antwerp in 2014, has shown that 6% of Sub-Saharan African women and 3% of the Sub-Saharan African men living in Antwerp are HIV positive; 53% of them did not report their status.

The promotion of knowing one’s HIV status and reducing barriers for HIV-testing is therefore a priority for the HIV-SAM Project. Together with community leaders we organize different activities to sensitize the Sub-Saharan African communities in Flanders about the importance of HIV testing. In addition, we bring HIV testing to the communities by organizing outreach HIV testing sessions. Many diagnostic opportunities are missed in the regular health care system because doctors do not routinely propose an HIV test. Therefore we also promote provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling at the rotuine health care level. To achieve this, we mainly work with first line service providers and their professional associations.

More information about HIV-testing among Sub-Saharan African migrants? Read our studies.

Curious about the promotion of sexual health?

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Curious about sexual health

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Get your booster vaccin

You are 80+ and want to get your 2nd Covid vaccin ? You can go on following dates to following locations without any hustle and bustle! Stay healthy.

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HIV, just another chronic ilness

Still afraid of HIV? Read some reassuring facts about it. If you still have questions, remarks, suggestions, contact us on hivsam@itg.be

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Want to know what the impact of Covid-19 has been on People living with HIV?

Enjoy reading the article of our ambassador My K. HA, Post Doctoral Researcher at the University of Antwerp, for all questions, remarks, please contact us on hivsam@itg.be

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European Testing Week 2021

All-Together-for-Health (AT4H), also known as the  HIV-SAM is dedicated to raising awareness of HIV testing, not only to promote the benefits for earlier HIV testing but most importantly to reduce late HIV diagnosis among affected populations in Belgium. Alongside hundreds of organizations participating in the European Testing Week, AT4H joins in the effort to increase …

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BREACH’s CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Breach’s call for abstracts was prolonged till 7 October 2021. The abstracts can be presented at the HIV and SARS-CoV-2 hybrid symposium on 21 October 2021.

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Best publication contest – BREACH Awards 2021

On behalf of our partners: Dear all,  For the sixth time – second time sponsored by ViiV – we will organize the “Best Belgian papers on HIV” contest.   Candidates who want to apply for the price need to submit their research work via a full peer reviewed paper to BREACH. Any professional working within the …

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Say yes to a Corona-Vaccin

Thinking of getting vaccinated against CORONA? Want to get it over with, without an appointment, without having to bring your papers, without rushing, … then check out the following places and dates. Go ahead and eliminate the risk of being infected with Covid-19. On to the next level of safety. * Wednesday 22 December from …

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Get vaccinated

If you want to get vaccinated against CORONA without appointment, without having to bring any papers, without any hustle, …check above mentioned locations and dates. Just go there and get rid of the risk of getting infected by Covid-19.

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