Positive Voice (Θετική Φωνή)

Positive Voice is the Greek Association of people living with HIV (PLWH). Our mission is to defend and promote the rights of PLWH, contain the HIV epidemic and mitigate its social and economic impact in Greece. It was founded in 2009 and develops actions and programs aimed at empowerment, psychosocial support, skills building and social integration of HIV-positive people and vulnerable to HIV populations. The Association focuses on tackling the health and social determinants of the HIV epidemic such as poverty, social exclusion, inequalities in access to the healthcare system, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. In the field of prevention, we have been operating since 2013 the prevention and testing structure “Checkpoint”. Our premises in Athens and Thessaloniki and two mobile units provide testing services for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and counselling sessions on sexual health issues. Up to May 2020 over 133,000 tests have been conducted at the Checkpoint, testing and prevention center. Positive Voice has 450 registered members, 17 employees and a broad network of over 500 active volunteers throughout Greece. Since 2012, we are successfully running the Streetwork Project, in collaboration with the Hellenic Liver Patients Association "Prometheus", reaching out to vulnerable to HIV population in the streets and Red Umbrella Athens, a community-based structure and day center for sex workers, Positive Voice has received numerous awards and distinctions for our advocacy, programs and campaigns, preeminent the “European Citizen of the Year 2016” award by the European Parliament.