Centre for Population Health Initiatives drives transformative change in HIV prevention and digital health innovation

Did you know? Digital health solutions can significantly improve treatment adherence and health outcomes. The HIVE project is contributing to this shift by developing innovative mHealth tools for HIV care. #HIVEproject #DigitalHealth #mHealth #HIVawareness #Innovation

From Elizabeth Taylor refusing to be silent in 1985 to Real Housewives pressing lawmakers on ADAP cuts in 2026, celebrity voices have played a documented, measurable role in keeping HIV on the public agenda. This matters right now. Eighteen states plus D.C. have already cut AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. Federal funding has been flat since 2014. Florida slashed ADAP eligibility in a move expected to remove thousands from the program. Roughly 4 in 10 people living with HIV rely on Medicaid — and that safety net is eroding. The science to end HIV exists. The tools are here. What's missing is the political will and public attention to make access universal. Any platform willing to carry that message forward is one worth welcoming. Read the full piece: https://lnkd.in/gdGgaV-X #HIVAdvocacy #PrEP #ADAP #RyanWhite #HealthEquity #HIVPrevention #PublicHealth #MedicaidCuts #HealthcareAccess #PolicyMatters

Thank you to all our stakeholders - students, alumni, staff, advisory board, the broader Stellenbosch University community & our Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences - Stellenbosch University, partners etc for the transitional & definitive year that the year 2025 turned out to be. We took on a new name, vision, strategic direction and agenda of Inclusive Health Management & we continue to sense-make, deepen our understanding & meaning of inclusion/inclusivity/inclusive across numerous African languages & enter into partnerships with many role players in this regard. Please take a peak into our 2025 Annual Report & see the many milestones that we achieved in growing our research trajectory, outputs & profile; the new partners that we entered into collaboration with; our community engagement & social impact footprint; our high PgDip enrolment; our new PgDip in Community Health Management draft syllabus; a full return to in-person PgDip Summer & Winter Schools among others. Corina du Toit Global Black Gay Men Connect Caregivers Empowerment Network Africa Sibusiso Moyo Juliet Rogers FEDISA Fashion School Kim Gush Dr. Jameo Calvert, THP(SA), D. THSc. Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) Thoko Madonko ntombozuko duku Zanele Cekiso International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) HospiVision NPO Anushka Srivastava Olive Shisana NACOSA - Networking HIV & AIDS Community of Southern Africa South African National Aids Council (SANAC)

At Positive Living North, the work we do across Northern British Columbia is only possible through strong partnerships and the continued support of our funders. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada, Provincial Health Services Authority, First Nations Health Authority, Northern Health - BC, ViiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences and United Way British Columbia for their commitment to advancing community health, equity, and well-being. Your support enables us to deliver culturally grounded, community-led programs focused on HIV and Hepatitis C education, harm reduction, and holistic wellness - particularly in rural and remote communities. Together, we are working to reduce stigma, improve access to care, and strengthen healthier, more resilient communities across Northern BC. We are grateful to be part of this collective effort. #PositiveLivingNorth #CommunityHealth #Partnerships #IndigenousHealth #NorthernBC

Access to comprehensive sexual health education in Northern Canada is still limited—and the consequences are real. Many young people lack accurate, culturally relevant information about HIV and HCV, increasing vulnerability and stigma. This is why initiatives like ReclaimEdu matter. Creating safe, informed spaces for honest conversations is essential to improving health outcomes and empowering communities. Grateful to see this important issue highlighted on CBC. More awareness, more education, and more action are needed. Vibusha Madanyake (MA)

Positive Living North was honoured to be featured in an interview with CBC Vancouver (CBC News), where Vibusha Madanyake (MA), Interim Co-Executive Director & Education Manager, spoke about our ongoing work in delivering HIV education and community-based outreach across Northern British Columbia. This conversation highlighted the importance of culturally safe, Indigenous-led approaches, especially in rural and remote communities where access to services can be limited. At PLN, we believe that education is more than information - it is about building trust, reducing stigma, and creating spaces for healing, connection, and care. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring forward the voices, realities, and strengths of the communities we work alongside. Together, we continue to advocate for equity, access, and dignity in health care across Northern BC. #PositiveLivingNorth #CBCVancouver #HIVEducation #CulturalSafety #IndigenousHealth #NorthernBC

Language matters especially in public health. I have spoken and write on this hundreds of times! The recent media framing using inaccurate and stigmatizing terminology is not just a matter of semantics. It has real consequences on the ground. When communities are labeled in harmful ways, it creates fear, reinforces stigma, and ultimately pushes key populations further away from accessing HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services. As someone working closely in HIV and community health, I have seen how trust is everything. One wrong headline can undo years of outreach, engagement, and relationship-building. Equally concerning is the exposure of individuals’ identities. This is not only unethical but may also contravene Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Protecting confidentiality is a cornerstone of public health and without it, people will not come forward for care. Media plays a powerful role in shaping narratives. With that power comes responsibility. There is an urgent need for continuous media sensitization and training to ensure reporting is accurate, respectful, and does not harm the very communities we are trying to support. Let’s work together to build a safer, stigma-free environment where no one is left behind in accessing healthcare. Belle Razali (she/her)

🟦🟨 HEALTH LITERACY DISCUSSION ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ADHERENCE IN NIGERIA WITH PHARM. ABUBAKAR ABBA. This week, our discussion focused on the nitty-gritty of Antiretroviral Therapy adherence across the biggest health facilities in Northern Nigeria. Some key points you should look out for this week are; 1. Timeline for ART adherence. 2. Quality of life optimization strategies in HIV clinics. 3. Barriers to ART adherence in Nigeria. https://lnkd.in/eb6VbFwE If you love interesting and educative talk, sensible discussions, our YouTube and podcast platforms are yours. Dr. Fajembola's Opinion is a platform where research meets understanding and legacy, we bring you the best of your health literacy needs, so please share with those you care about. @pshan_alliance @WHONigeria @WHO @AfricaCDC @CDCgov @UnescoMilBR @MBRF_Knowledge.global @Misk_Global @mbrf_news @WHONigeria @who.fides @UNESCO @CDCGlobal @bbchealth @bbcglobalwomen @youtube @youtubeafrica #FIRST #eachonehelpone

In Mali, women are driving health care forward. Mariata Bengaly brings health care directly to women who cannot reach a health facility. As a community health worker, she visits women who are living with HIV in their homes, delivering antiretroviral treatment, monitoring patients’ viral load and providing antenatal care. In Mali, where nearly half of all pregnant women living with HIV lack access to treatment that can prevent mother-to-child transmission, home-based care is a lifeline. By extending care beyond the walls of health centers, Mariata ensures women receive the essential services they need – wherever they are. ARCAD Santé PLUS Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e-ta_A3x

Proud to represent Avita Care Solutions and our incredible team at Q Care Plus as we head to #FamiliaNaLa in Dallas and share the work that matters most to us-expanding access to compassionate, high-quality, status-neutral HIV care for our Latine communities. This work is deeply personal to me. Serving my own community is a professional responsibility as well as a privilege. Where we live should never limit our ability to ACCESS care or DELIVER it. We are commited to breaking down barriers to care for our patients and for the clinicians who care for them by levaraging telehealth. Equity should extend accross every aspect of our healthcare system. #FamiliaNaLa #CommunityHealth #HealthEquity #Telehealth