N’Zinga – Coletivo de Mulheres Negras de Belo Horizonte

Quilombolas no Enfrentamento à HIV / AIDS e Hepatites Virais

Brazil’s black populationis generally poorer, has lower life expectancy, education attainment levels, and access to health services. These inequalities directly affect the incidence of HIV/AIDS among the poorest citizens, who are disproportionately black and female. N’Zinga emerged in 1986 mobilizing women of color to fight prejudice and the various forms of discrimination that are institutionalized in any social spheres.

With BrazilFoundation’s support, this project will train 20 women and 10 adolescents to act as Quilombo (communities of afro-descendants, originally formed by escaped slaves) Community Health Advocates for HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis prevention. Engaging quilombolas (members of the quilombo) themselves is an effective means of encouraging participation in information-sharing and the planning and executing of interventional strategies in the communities.