On Friday 18th February, Terrence Higgins Trust and leading African faith groups will be holding the first UK conference on HIV prevention in the African community. The conference will bring together influential faith organisations and HIV prevention experts to learn from each other, and to provide greater support for African people living with HIV, and prevent more people from becoming infected.

Conference organiser, Walter Gillgower, from Terrence Higgins Trust said:
"HIV Stigma is a big problem in the African community. It is vital that we work together with African faith groups to tackle this, and to give greater support to African people living with or affected by HIV.

"African communities must face the fact that HIV is in our community. In order to prevent more people becoming infected, we need to talk about HIV far more openly and work with the church to support people living with the condition."

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The African Faith Communities HIV Prevention Conference was organized by:

• THT
• UAAF
• LEAT
• Positive Place
• BHCHP
  

2. It was produced in partnership with:

• African Community Involvement Association
• African HIV Research Forum
• AAEGRO
• Health First
• Lambeth PCT
• Camden PCT/African Communities
• LSL Muslin Pan London Project
• AHEAD

3. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year. The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and AIDS.