1st December has been designated as World AIDS Day since 1988. It is an opportunity to reflect on the global impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, remember those who have lost their lives, and show support for those living with HIV. This day also highlights the importance of continuing efforts in prevention, education, and care for those affected by the virus.
To mark World AIDS Day, we’d like to showcase some of the important materials held within the LSHTM Archives that relate to HIV and AIDS. The archive contains eight collections that provide a rich and varied resource, demonstrating both national and international responses to the treatment and prevention of HIV.
Among these eight collections is material from The Naz Project London, a key organization that has contributed to public health education and support for minority ethnic communities. The Naz Project was established in October 1991 with the aim of addressing the unique challenges faced by global majority communities in the context of HIV and sexual health. Today, the organization is still active, working to improve access to culturally appropriate services for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The LSHTM Archives holds a variety of materials from The Naz Project, including annual reports, newsletters, leaflets, research papers, and postcards, spanning the years 1999 to 2006. These materials can be found within our Fakoya, Wellings, and SIGMA collections.
- The Fakoya collection contains studies, reports, and campaign materials related to the UK African diaspora’s awareness and prevention of HIV, as well as sexual health issues and community mobilization efforts. This material was collected by Ibidun Fakoya while working as part of the MESH (Migration, Ethnicity & Sexual Health) programme at University College London.
- The Wellings collection holds materials on public education campaigns related to HIV and AIDS, which were collected by Professor Kaye Wellings as part of her research on sexual and reproductive health in the 1980s and 1990s.
- The SIGMA Research collection is a social research group specialising in the behavioural and policy aspects of HIV and sexual health. This collection features grey and published literature examining the impact of HIV on the sexual and social lives of diverse populations.
The Naz Project’s mission was to challenge myths and prejudices surrounding HIV within these communities, advocate for better access to HIV services, and empower individuals by providing culturally relevant education and support. The organization has campaigned to ensure that global majority populations are not excluded from HIV, AIDS, and sexual health services due to barriers such as language and cultural insensitivity.
The Naz Project’s research in the 1990s highlighted a significant gap in HIV prevention activities for South Asian men. The organization also produced training resources and research papers aimed at reaching underserved communities, ensuring they had access to accurate and relevant information on sexual health.
GB 0809 SIGMA Research/06/35 ‘Developing Good Practice in HIV Prevention with South Asian men who have sex with men, A Briefing Paper’ by Gera Patel and Krishna Maharaj, a Naz Project London report for CHAPS (Community HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategy) (2000)
GB 0809 SIGMA Research/04/163 ‘Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours among Black and Minority Ethnic Youth in London, A summary of findings’ Adrienne Testa and Dr Lester Coleman for Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA) and Naz Project London (NPL) (2006)
One of the key areas of The Naz Project’s work has been the development of multi-racial and multi-cultural perspectives in HIV prevention and care. This includes providing information in multiple languages to meet the needs of these populations and using cross-cultural counselling models to ensure that HIV services are accessible and effective for these communities.
As a still-active organization, The Naz Project continues to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support on HIV, AIDS, sexual health, and sexuality to communities from South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
The materials housed in the LSHTM Archives provide a crucial historical perspective on the role of grassroots organizations in HIV prevention and care. The Naz Project is just one example of the many national, regional, and international organizations whose work is showcased in our archives.
