HIV Awareness Project

RedbridgeCVS has launched a new project aimed at raising HIV awareness among the African community in Redbridge. People in this community are at increased risk of HIV infection, and also at risk of being diagnosed late. If you have HIV, it's important to find out and begin treatment as soon as possible so that you have the best chance of remaining well, and so that you don't pass on the virus.

Darshana Lathigra (photo, right) will co-ordinate the HIV project with the help of our HIV Health Buddies team. Darshana has over two decades of experience in health engagement and promotion and has recently trained a team of Health Buddies in collaboration with our partner organisation, Positive East. Positive East are a leading charity at the forefront of HIV service and care, and have worked for over 26 years supporting people from the point of their HIV diagnosis to longer term care and wellbeing.  

Our Health Buddies will be conducting HIV awareness sessions within the community at various voluntary organisations, faith groups and other outreach events within Redbridge.

 The key elements of these sessions will be as below: 

  •  promoting the importance of early testing and diagnosis and thereby prevention of onward transmission
  •  Information/signposting regarding HIV testing, local testing centres and addressing barriers   to testing.
  •  Information and signposting to other services offered by Positive East and other partner   organisations including free treatment as well as support available          

Through this project we aim to work with and reassure communities that there is help/support available for HIV positive individuals and through early diagnosis as well as ongoing treatment they can lead healthy & fulfilling lives. They need not suffer alone.

Would your group or organisation like to invite our Health Buddies to conduct a Free HIV awareness session for you to make a difference to the lives of people in your community? 

We would love to hear from you.

For further information please contact Imma Koigi, Health Promotion Programme Coordinator, on 07458 074770 or via email

London Borough of RedbridgeNHS Redbridge Clinical Commissioing GroupCity of LondonLondon CouncilsMayor of LondonSkills Funding Agency  Big Lottery