hivaidsStigma

South Carolina African American HIV/AIDS Council

The South Carolina African American HIV/AIDS Council (SCAAHAC) created in 1994, is a leader in providing HIV/AIDS and STD prevention services to African American communities throughout South Carolina. SCAAHAC provides a variety of community-, group-, and individual-level services to PLWHA and those at risk of HIV infection residing in rural communities of South Carolina.

With funding from AED, SCAAHAC developed and implemented a three pronged approach to reducing HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. SCAAHAC 1) coordinated and implemented legislative town hall meetings focusing on issues of HIV/AIDS within rural counties; 2) produced a theater-based educational product that introduced communities and their local leaders to the realities of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination; and 3) created a statewide campaign, called "Turn Your Heart Around" to address HIV/AIDS stigma, which included the development of Public Service Announcements, posters, editorials, and other media materials.

Visit the "Turn Your Heart Around" web site at www.turnyourheartaround.org

More details on the outcomes of this project, under the first phase of the National HIV/AIDS Anti-stigma Initiative, will be posted shortly.