Beyond Condoms, a new campaign launching on Thursday 18 May will aim to encourage condom use and greater openness about sexual health in the African community.

The campaign, funded by the Department of Health, is launching at the National African HIV Conference (NAHIP) and will use posters, leaflets and community workshops to create open conversations about HIV, sexual health and the importance of using condoms. Outreach workers will also visit pubs, clubs, markets, schools, churches and other community meeting places.

According Health Protection Agency figures from 2004 over 15,000 African are currently living with HIV in the UK and are under the care of an HIV specialist.  But the true number is higher still, as a third of people living with HIV do not know they have the condition and have not been tested.

Beyond Condoms is a partnership between the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN), Terrence Higgins Trust, NAZ project London, Barnados Castle Project, Uganda AIDS Action Fund, Ethiopian Community Centre in the UK, The Crescent Support group, UK Coalition of people living with HIV, West African Networking Initiative, Black Health Agency and Pan Afrique Centre. 

Community and religious leaders, elders and sports personalities will back the campaign by empowering women to negotiate safer sex and challenging social norms which encourage promiscuity.

The campaign materials, to be translated into French, Amharic, Swahili, Portuguese and Somali, will give information on safer sex and advice on where to go to get an HIV and sexual health check.

Walter Gillgower, NAHIP Programme Manager at the African HIV Policy Network said:
"We need to encourage couples to speak more openly about sexual health and safer sex. HIV and sexually transmitted infections are huge problems for the African community, and people are still not talking about them."

Elias Phiri, African Communities Health Promotion Officer at Terrence Higgins Trust said:
"African communities currently have the highest number of new HIV diagnoses of any group in the UK and are at high risk from other sexually transmitted infections too. We're delighted that the Government has funded this campaign which is vital if we're to stop another generation of young people becoming infected."

Speaking at the launch of the Beyond Condoms campaign, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said:

“Beyond Condoms, the new HIV health promotion programme launched today – will help to promote safer sex messages to young Africans living in the UK. The posters will form the focal point of outreach work taking place in local communities across the country.

“Research has shown that those from African communities are slower at coming forward for HIV testing than other groups at increased risk of HIV. I hope that these eye-catching posters will play a role in raising awareness of HIV and encourage people to seek advice, testing, reassurance and treatment in confidence.”

Syson Namaganda Support services manager at Black Health Agency said:
"Peer pressure continues to the biggest influence on young people having sex, and men are still calling the shots when it comes to condom use. We need to empower men and women to negotiate condom use and take control of their sexual health."

Ends

Notes to Editors

The National African HIV Prevention Programme (NAHIP) works with predominantly African-led organisations to deliver HIV prevention interventions. NAHIP is funded by the Department of Health and managed by the African HIV Policy Network.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint spoke at the National African HIV conference today where she launched the Beyond Condoms campaign.  Please contact Jonathan Carroll at the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5472 if you would like to interview the minister. Copies of her speech are also available.