Summary of Key Points

Greater Manchester HIV Testing Week 2025

• Ran from 24–30 November and included increased testing opportunities and community outreach.
• Launched the Sort HIV social media campaign focusing on Test, Treat, Manage, Prevent messaging.
• Staff across the PaSH partnership created short videos to raise awareness of HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis.
• Events encouraged proactive sexual health testing and aimed to dismantle stigma toward HIV.
• Activities culminated around World AIDS Day (1 December) with a community vigil in Sackville Gardens.

World AIDS Day 2025 & Government HIV Action Plan

• The government released a new plan aiming to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.
• HIV diagnoses remain rising in minoritised ethnic communities.
• Emphasises the importance of community‑led approaches, which BHA has championed for over 35 years.
• BHA offers rapid HIV testing via appointments or postal delivery.

Black History Month: Black Queer History Session

• Session held at Manchester Central Library with the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Centre.
• Explored Standing Firm in Power and Pride through a Black LGBTQ+ lens.
• Highlighted intersections between race, gender, sexuality, and community activism.
• Reflected on BHA’s 35‑year history and celebrated contributions of staff across the organisation.

Women’s Empowerment Group

• Held two sessions focusing on self‑love, combating loneliness, and the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers.
• Sessions combined creative activities with open, supportive dialogue.

The PrEP Project

• Continued offering Fast Track referrals to improve PrEP access for Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities.
• Featured HIV activist Chizor Onwuegbute on the Power to Prevent podcast about tailoring PrEP education.
• Episodes available on Spotify and YouTube.

Smoking Cessation Project

• Continued into the new year, delivering sessions across Greater Manchester.
• Aimed at supporting diverse ethnic communities to access stop‑smoking services.
• Sessions included community conversations around quitting strategies.

What’s Coming Up? (Early 2026)

• National HIV Testing Week 2026: 9–15 February.
• Click & Collect Rapid HIV Tests: Available February from BHA’s Manchester office.
• Menopause Health Event: 7 February, in partnership with Oldham Leisure Centre.
• Whitworth Gallery Partnership: New collaboration under Commoning Ground to address health inequalities through creativity.

External Links (HTML Format)

The document contains references to online services; below are provided using HTML link format:

• BHA PrEP Information:
  https://thebha.org.uk/prep/