Health Action Charity Organisation (HACO) is dedicated to working with African communities in Medway and Kent to address and reduce the major, well-documented causes of health disparities. Our mission is to improve sexual health outcomes by significantly enhancing access to comprehensive support mechanisms, health education, and specialized sexual health services. We take pride in being the first organisation in Medway to establish a support framework specifically for African men who are experiencing abusive relationships, filling a critical gap in care and advocacy.
Our project aims to achieve significant, lasting improvements in the sexual health of individuals from African and other Black and ethnic minority communities in Medway. We focus on achieving specific, measurable outcomes, such as:
- Decreasing the onward transmission of HIV: By promoting awareness, regular testing, and prevention strategies, we work to reduce new infections.
- Reducing the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV: Our outreach and education efforts encourage early testing and diagnosis to improve health outcomes.
- Enhancing the health and well-being of people living with HIV: We connect individuals to essential healthcare services, ensuring ongoing support and effective treatment.
Long-Term Objectives
Our long-term goals aim to create sustainable and positive changes in the community, including:
- Increased uptake of health services: We work to break down barriers to accessing healthcare, encouraging greater engagement among African communities.
- Greater knowledge of HIV and sexual health services: Through education campaigns and community-based initiatives, we raise awareness and understanding of available resources.
- Strengthened partnerships with statutory organisations: By collaborating with public health entities and other key stakeholders, we ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to improving community health.
Together, these efforts contribute to a healthier, more informed, and empowered community, where disparities in sexual health are effectively addressed and reduced.
Our Services
Working with Individuals
- Providing information and available options to local African people in relation to sexual health and HIV Providing one-to-one support to individuals (e.g. accompanying people to testing clinics Hospital and Prison visits accompany clients to solicitors and MP surgeries to sort out immigration issues).
- Sign posting to other services (e.g. local authority services)
- Attendance at African and other BME based venues and events to carry out sexual health promotion work)
- Contributing to skills development in the local community through provision of comprehensive training for project volunteers.
Working with Service Providers
- Mapping Exercise to find where target population can best be accessed and what services are already being accessed by target group.
- Collaborative working with African and other Black and Ethnic Minority groups around events such as those associated with World Aids Day, Black History Month & Independence Day
- Collaborative working with statutory health services such as Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics [GUM’s] PCT’s and hospitals 2 way referral systems with GUM clinics, Citizens Advice Bureau, Local Authority Housing departments, Immigration services, Prison services and other statutory and voluntary agencies
- Buddy Service – The Buddy service is a one-to-one befriending and support service available to people with HIV
Sign people to the Hardship Fund
People living with HIV are often unable to continue in full-time employment, either because they lose their jobs, or their illness makes working extremely difficult. Therefore, people can find themselves in dire financial need. This project has a particular, though not exclusive, focus on reaching African men with or at risk of HIV, who are more likely to be undiagnosed and are less likely to access potentially available services than women. (WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY MOBILISER TO DO THIS)
Sexual Health Promotion Work
The attendance plan features a variety of local venues, events and community groups: Social Venues; including churches, pubs, sports clubs and events, markets, African shops and barber shops we organized a seminar in April, Celebrating Cultural diversity in July and we attended a church with African congregation in Chatham on the invitation by the Parish pastor. Staff of Medway PCT had Health Promotion inputs in these three events.
Currently celebrating selected African countries Independence days celebration to bring Africans together to learn more about HIV prevention and Sexual Health. African Groups; The project will collaborate with local African groups such as local networking groups, Kent African women and Kent African Men associations has been inaugurated by HACO
HACO Leaflets and Materials
Leaflets are produced detailing what services and information is provided by each HACO project, some basic information about HIV and contact details of the Sectional Workers. This is widely distributed in Medway.
A range of materials have also been developed as resources to support our health promotion work. Posters on Condom Usage and leaflets on information on all issues relating to HIV and sexual heath.
