6 | Q4 2021 Jul21336 8 Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021 Jul21336 Most Dedicated HIV Health & Wellness Organisation 2021 HIV and AIDS is one of the most stigmatised illnesses in the world, with an enormous amount of discrimination and misinformation in the most vulnerable communities. Actionplus Foundation was founded by the Apostle Fred Osei Annin to fight this misinformation and to spread a word guided by faith and by good health practices. We take a closer look at how this incredible Southwark-based charity has achieved such amazing success in the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021. In 1997, Apostle Fred Osei Annin found a problem, and it was a problem that affected numerous communities the length and breadth of the UK. Those who were living with, or were affected by, HIV/AIDS faced a culture of inaccuracy and it was a culture that had led to Southwark becoming a community with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the entirety of the UK. For Fred, the solution was obvious – he had to put a stop to it. His solution was Actionplus Foundation, based in the heart of Southwark. He could see the challenges ahead of him. HIV has always been high within black African communities because of ignorance of what treatments are available and what pathways can be found. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Fred started a campaign that was specifically designed to overcome the incredible stigma that had built up over the years and become a major barrier to health professionals intervening when they could have the most impact. Fred’s campaign engaged with black African churches, interacting with pastors so that the growing number of cases within the BAME community could be significantly impacted. This approach came from Fred’s unique knowledge, as he knew not only that the church plays a central role for many African communities, but that their leadership is often ill-informed and unable to provide the appropriate level of assistance. For many in the BAME community, the church is the hub around which many people gather. It is an essential community pillar both in the UK and abroad. This is what makes it the rightful place from which to spearhead such an important campaign of new information. Because many pastors haven’t the right factual knowledge, it has become more of a challenge to combat. In closeknit communities, the risks are greater than they might otherwise be. Those who become infected with HIV might not be aware of their status, or the fact that they are placing the whole community at risk. Those who might live in fear that they will become stigmatised when their HIV status is revealed. These Pastors initially thought they were defending the truth because there thought when God curses someone, no man could redeem that person and so Changing their misconception and ignorance were big issues to be addressed. Many members who were infected with the virus were excommunicated and stigmatised but with this breakthrough, now people are openly getting tested in the church and those who find themselves being positive are getting the treatment they need. The church which was once seen as a “No Go Zone for HIV has now become an HIV friendly environment where millions of lives around the world are been saved by being tested and treated for HIV. Fred is the first Pentecostal Pastor to lead this campaign, single handedly around the world. Many health care professionals have adopted this model because it is quick, effective and safe. Actionplus Foundation gets to the heart of the issue, firstly training pastors so they can be empowered to give medically accurate knowledge to their communities and secondly allowing them to use this knowledge in their preaching to demonstrate clearly God’s love for the world. Many pastors believed that HIV could only be cured through powerful prayer as opposed to the tools which his people have developed over the years. The major breakthrough in this regard came thanks to the Actionplus’ “Take Action Now” model, which saw many different groups change their approach towards HIV/AIDS and thereby revolutionise people’s knowledge of the illness. The “Take Action Now” programme entails giving African faith leaders the training and information they need about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Since first being run, it has been an essential resource offered by the team, correcting the many different perceptions around the topic. For so many in these communities, the stigmas and mistaken ideas around sexually transmitted diseases have been a source of incredible harm. The power which church leaders hold is sometimes underestimated by those who wield it. This programme, a core part of Actionplus Foundation, empowers leaders with accurate information and allows them to share it with those who depend upon them for guidance. Since first opening the doors of Actionplus Foundation, Fred and his incredible team have been able to change the way in which many in the UK see HIV/AIDS, particularly in BAME communities. The team has been fortunately to have to opportunity to continue its program out outreach, with branches in three African countries, namely Fred’s homeland of Ghana, as well as Kenya and Uganda. The team’s ability to connect with religious groups and educate them on the realities of HIV/AIDS have made them welcome partners to many international organisations that are developing unique initiatives.
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