Promoten van seksuele gezondheid en preventie van hiv & soa Terreinwerking voor seksuele gezondheid bij sub-Saharaans- Afrikaanse migranten in Vlaanderen

The HIV-SAM Project implements sexual health promotion and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) including HIV with Sub-Saharan African communities in Flanders and Brussels. Together with the communities and in collaboration with professional intermediaries we develop, implement and evaluate targeted prevention campaigns. We also support people living with HIV.

As in most western European countries, people of Sub-Saharan African decent are dis-proportionally affected by HIV. In 2021, 373 new HIV diagnoses were diagnosed were heterosexual persons. Persons with Sub-Saharan African origin represented 45% of the number of HIV infections diagnosed through heterosexual transmission (2021) which makes them the second largest group affected by HIV after men having sex with men.

The Flemish Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Family has reacted to the HIV crisis in this population and commissioned targeted HIV prevention. The HIV-SAM Project was started in 1996. Currently, we work on the basis of a three year management agreement (2023-2026) which responded to an open call for field organizations. Our current work is guided by the priorities stipulated in the three-year policy plan. Each year our work is fine-tuned through a detailed annual plan approved by the Ministry . Since the beginning of our work, we have aimed at promoting sexual health and preventing HIV in the communities of Sub-Saharan African migrants living in Flanders. Our work also contributes to the implementation of the 2020-2026 National HIV-Plan.