Monday, August 29th 2022 is National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NFHAAD). The event is spearheaded by RAHMA, Reaching All HIV+ Muslims in America, who held the first NFHAAD observance in 2017.
RAHMA notes that while faith plays a major role in the lives of many Americans, for many living with HIV, faith communities can turn from a place of refuge to a source of stigma and turmoil. RAHMA’s overall goal is to rally all US communities representative of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Baha’i faiths to take a stand against stigma in their congregations and raise awareness on HIV/AIDS.
This NFHAAD, let’s work to combat stigma, spread awareness, and create safe spaces within faith communities.
Check out the following NFHAAD resources:
- “My Faith, My Story,” is a short documentary-style film amplifying the voices of a few Faith Leaders, Advocates, and People Living with HIV in the South.
- Watch videos from the virtual NFHAAD 2020 celebration and other past observances.
Access the following PAETC on-demand courses for combatting stigma:
- HIV Learning Network – HIV Stigma & LGBT Communities
- HIV Learning Network – Culturally-Based Programs to Improve Engagement and Health Outcomes: Addressing Stigma for Native Hawaiian with HIV
- HIV Learning Network – HIV Status Disclosure: Considerations to reduce stigma in serodifferent relationships
