Heart, life, and spirit; Moyo is now the leading HIV/AIDS service provider in Peel

BY PAUL JUNOR

Moyo (also known as Peel HIV/AIDS Network) has “provided a growing array of health promotion, education, social and support services for people living with, affected by, and at systemic risk of HIV.

Over the years, Moyo has become the leading HIV/AIDS service provider in Peel serving communities in: Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. The website notes that Moyo is a word in Swahili which translates, “heart, life, and spirit.” They remain committed to the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion, and to ensuring that communities affected and affected by HIV attain health and wellbeing.

The rebranding from Peel HIV/ AIDS Network to Moyo occurred in June 2019 in order to:

• Remove barriers to accessing care
• Reflect changing trends in health communications
• Reflect the expanding scope of the agency
• Reiterate our solidarity in working with racialized communities

Moyo Health and Family Services offers some of these specialized services:

1. Community Engagement Programs and Services

• Theater for Positive Mental Health-mental health support for African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) Communities in Peel using theater and art
• The Young Black Women’s Project – leadership program for young femme-identifying individuals between the ages of 18-30
• The Care Collective space for ACB women and femme-identifying folks to gather and discuss de-stigmatizing HIV and sexual health
• The Muslim Women’s Health Series – promotion of health and wellbeing among Muslim women
• The PreP Clinic- weekly free HIV testing, STBBI testing and treatment, and consultation
• Community Link – free of cost HIV self-test kits distribution
• Capacity building training – for service providers on anti-Black racism and mental wellness

2. HIV Client Support Service Program

• Case management services based on need and availability of resources

3. Women and HIV/AIDS Initiatives (WHAI)
4. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Project
5. Arm Reduction Services
6. 2SLGBTQ + Services

• Removing the Barriers – includes Inclusionary training for service providers
• Chair n’Chat – online wellness individual counseling by appointment
• Totally Outright Program – educational sessions and one-on-one meeting
• Rainbow Salad Virtual Information Hub – interdisciplinary services and resources

They recently announced their newest program, “Theatre for Positive Mental Health.” Over the course of six weekly sessions starting Tuesday, September 12^th, until Tuesday, October 31^st, participants will be able to find a safe space to discuss Black mental wellness. Anyone who identifies with the ACB communities would benefit from these sessions.

The schedules of the eight virtual and in-person sessions on Tuesdays: 6:30pm – 8:00pm are:

September 12^th: Act Up: Intro to Participatory Theatre and Black Mental Health.

Get into character. Join us for our first session on deconstructing Black stereotypes.

September 19^th: Disrupting the Stigma: A Deeper Dive into Black Mental Health.

Continue the conversation on Black mental health and its impact on everyday lives.

September 26^th: Real Talk: A Word on Black Bodies and Sexual Health.

Destigmatizing sexual wellness and breaking stereotypes around sexual wellness.

October 2^nd: The Black Body and Stress. A deeper look on how the impact of racism and stress on the Black body.

October 9^th: Navigating Through Institutions While Black. Examining feelings of alienation in non-Black spaces and ways to feel supported.

October 16^th: I Got the Power. Self-advocacy and negotiating healthy boundaries at school, work and in everyday life.

October 23^rd: Black Love. An exploration of love and how to cultivate self-love and engage in healthy relationships.

October 31^st: Graduation. Bravo! You made it! This will be an opportunity to recapping experiences and celebrate successful completion.

Anyone interested in Positive Mental Health can register at: https://tpmh.eventbrite.ca