A guide for spiritual leaders to prevent HIV transmission and eliminate HIV stigma

hand in hand: a guide for spiritual leaders to prevent HIV transmission and eliminate HIV stigma within Australian migrant and refugee communities.

This resource provides you, as a spiritual leader, with insights on how you can contribute to preventing HIV transmission and address HIV stigma in your community and congregation.

Why spiritual leaders?
As a spiritual leader, you hold a place of respect, authority and leadership in society.  As such, you have the opportunity to make a real difference in  addressing HIV/AIDS in your community and congregation.

Your position can play a pivotal role in preventing HIV transmission; addressing
the debilitating effects of HIV stigma, and advocating for, and providing care and
support to, people living with HIV.

HIV in Australia

• an estimated 25,708 people were living with HIV at the end of 2012
• of the 5,525 people newly diagnosed with HIV between 2008 and 2012, approximately 2,387 were born overseas
• among migrants who were newly diagnosed between 2008 and 2012, the
  majority (1,391) were born in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, North Africa and the Middle East
• more women (835) than men (556) from sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, were newly diagnosed with HIV between 2008 and 2012