The knowledge, the will and the power: a plan of action to meet the HIV prevention needs of Africans in England

Funded by the Department of Health and managed by the African HIV Policy Network, the National African HIV Prevention Programme (NAHIP) works mainly with African-led organisations to deliver HIV prevention interventions across England. NAHIP aims to enable Africans to access appropriate information and services to equip them to make informed sexual health decisions and to fight discrimination and stigma. The NAHIP partner organisations have worked closely with Sigma Research to devise this consensus document. It articulates the central issues for planning sexual HIV prevention interventions targeting Africans living in England. This document describes some of the obstacles to meeting HIV prevention need and focuses on overcoming these barriers in order to achieve change. This document is a plan for action. Many different people influence sexual HIV transmission to and from African people living in England. They include Africans (with HIV and without HIV), people planning and delivering HIV prevention interventions, community leaders, health care providers, faith leaders, educators, police, commissioners of services, charitable funders, legislators and researchers – the actions of each can make significant contributions to meeting HIV prevention needs and thereby decreasing the likelihood of HIV transmission. One of the aims of this document has been to foster a sense of common purpose among a very diverse group of organisations undertaking HIV prevention, treatment and care interventions with African people living in England. The result of this collaborative process is a plan of action that offers a clear and purposeful vision. We are proud of the commitment to partnership that this plan embodies and are hopeful that it will support all those who are concerned with HIV infection and who have the capacity to influence it.