Our own previous research, clearly showed that Sub-Saharan African communities prefer HIV tests to be brought to their communities. Therefore in 2009 we launched outreach HIV testing sessions. The current Swab2know project continues to respond to this demand by offering oral fluid HIV testing in the different communities. This initiative has been supported by of the City of Antwerp. A team from the HIV-SAM Project and Helpcenter-ITM attends events hosted by Sub-Saharan African organizations, church services and visits bars and offers free, de-medicalized HIV testing and counseling on the spot. We use saliva HIV tests (oral fluid collection devices) which do not require a needle prick or blood sample. Participants can collect their test a week later at Helpcenter-ITM or via a secured website, according to their personal preference. In addition, HIV test kits can also be ordered online.
Stigma is a pervasive problem that creates more fear and anger against people instead of focusing on the illness behind it. Stigma has its basis in discrimination against a group of people, a place or a nation. During this pandemic, people tend to look for a culprit for the situation out of fear of illness …
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for people living with HIV?
The COVID-19 vaccines offered in Europe today have been approved by regulators including the European Medicines Agency. The vaccines are tested for safety in humans during development and are therefore only approved if safety is proven in most people, including those living with HIV. Before vaccines are licensed for scale-up, national regulatory authorities assess the …
Safe COVID-19 vaccines for all ~ Message from the EU
Vaccination against COVID-19 started on 27 December 2020 across the European Union, in a moment of unity. A safe and effective vaccine is our lasting way out of the pandemic. The European Commission has been working tirelessly to secure doses of vaccines, and approved three COVID-19 vaccines, which were assessed as being safe and effective. …
The Hiv-Sam team wishes you a healthy and prosperous 2021, may it become a blooming period for both professional and private life and may we soon see all HIV and Corona problems come to an end. Christiana, Ddungu, Lazare, Monique
http://www.hivsam.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WADEng-result.pdf World AIDS Day 1st December 20202020 has been a challenging year, whereby COVID_19 restrictions made us innovate in order to keep track of our core mission: reaching out to communities of Sub-Saharan origin and working together for sexual health of all.1st December will be World Aids Day (WAD), the day that we come together …
