Activities and campaigns

AHPN leads and delivers campaigns and activities. We have a history of successful campaigns because our work is rooted in research, consultation and engaging the African community. Historically, AHPN has led campaigns to improve the lives of Africans living with HIV in the UK, on topics including immigration, stigma and discrimination, faith, media and human rights.

Our campaigns have led to improvements in services and have made a positive difference to the lives of many. Past campaigns include:

Destination Unknown: a campaign on the impact of immigration and deportation on African people living with HIV. Through the campaign, we took action to call on the Home Office to delay the deportation of people living with HIV from the UK. See our reports Returned to Risk (co-authored) and From a Destination Unknown to a Safe Place.

Changing Perspectives aimed to raise awareness and change the perception of stigmatised long term health conditions among African communities. We achieved this through work with faith communities, the media, the government, and people living with and affected by these conditions. We have developed resources for faith leaders (both Muslim and Christian) to support them in raising awareness of HIV, challenging stigma, and changing perspectives.

Start the Press was a ground-breaking campaign and report challenging African communities in the UK and the media to combat stigma around HIV and AIDS.

Time to Change aimed to raise awareness of mental illnesses within African and Caribbean communities. Through the use of Church Champions (individuals who had either suffered from a mental illness or knew someone who had) we visited church congregations with a large proportion of African’s or Caribbean’s in attendance throughout England. Our Church Champions spoke about their experiences with mental illness to encourage an ongoing dialogue among all they met.

AHPN also ran a programme funded by Prostate Cancer UK speaking to African and Caribbean men about the dangers of prostate cancer. The seminars held were accompanied by a survey which aimed to establish the participants level of knowledge about prostate cancer before and after the seminar. This programme was of particular significance as black males are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. See our report on this programme by clicking on the link here

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African Communities UK tackle health - Kenya London news 18.01.2012