BHA For Equality Newsletter Mar 2025

Key Facts

National HIV Testing Week 2025

• Annual campaign (March 10-16) to promote regular HIV testing in England
• Particularly focused on groups most affected by HIV, including people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds
• BHA partnered with HIV Prevention England (HPE) using the “I TEST” campaign
• Campaign featured diverse models and various reasons for testing to appeal to different audiences
• Testing is crucial for ending all new HIV transmissions by 2030
• Free, discreet, quick, and confidential HIV tests available

Menopause Resources

• Translated versions of the Menopause booklet now available in four languages: Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, and English
• Initiative aims to remove language barriers to health information
• Online professional launch event held featuring:
  • Introduction by BHA sexual health leads
  • Guest speakers Dr. Alison Pye (Consultant in Public Health) and Sheni Ravji-Smith (Assistant Director of OD + Good Employment)
  • Q&A session on menopause topics

Sexual Health Services

• Home full-screen STI tests now available for multiple conditions:
  • Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV
• Free and discreet condom and lube delivery service offered

PrEP Awareness Week 2025

• Theme: “The Power to Prevent” – emphasizing ownership of sexual health
• Social media campaign with inclusive models showing PrEP is for everyone
• Group sessions organized for women from minoritised communities
• Focus on female empowerment and control over sexual health
• Collaging workshops exploring themes of empowerment and PrEP
• Education about PrEP availability on NHS for HIV-negative individuals

Smoking Cessation Initiative

• National No Smoking Day marked on March 12th
• Raising awareness about benefits of stopping smoking
• Information about impacts of smokeless tobacco and shisha
• Offering brief interventions across Greater Manchester
• Supporting self-referrals to specialized local stop smoking services

Upcoming Events

• Fast Track Cities Manchester (May 2025) – part of global initiative to end new HIV transmissions by 2030
• Men’s Health Week (June 9-12, 2025) – using “The ‘S’ Word” podcast to support men’s health conversations
• Mind, Body and Soul Event (June 2025) – exploring links between sex, mental and physical health
• Refugee Week (June 16-22, 2025) – participating in arts & culture festival celebrating refugee resilience