AfA Singapore

10/12/2025

2025 HIV-Related Stigma & Discrimination Study by AfA Singapore

Post #1: Overview

Since the 1980s, we have seen significant biomedical advances in HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

Unfortunately, HIV-related stigma & discrimination still persists. This is known to:

- Hinder access to lifesaving HIV prevention, testing and treatment
- Harm the health, quality of life, and human rights of people living with and at risk of HIV
- Increase the risk of HIV transmission in the community

From Mar to Nov 2025, AfA surveyed 116 people living with HIV in Singapore to ask them about their experiences of HIV-related stigma and discrimination

100% of respondents (i.e. all of them!) reported at least one experience of stigma and/or discrimination in the past 12 months

Stigma refers to negative attitudes and misleading beliefs around HIV and people affected by it

In the past 12 months, due to their HIV status:

- 94% of respondents experienced internalised stigma, e.g. feeling guilty or worthless
- 80% of respondents experienced anticipated stigma, e.g. choosing not to apply for jobs or isolating themselves from family/friends

Discrimination refers to harmful actions and environments which negatively affect people living with and affected by HIV

In the past 12 months, due to their HIV status:

- 61% of respondents experienced discrimination, e.g. facing discriminatory remarks by family members, being refused employment or a job opportunity, or being verbally harassed

To end HIV as a public health threat by 2030, UNAIDS set the target that

01/12/2025

What does World AIDS Day mean to us?

Chronos: “World AIDS Day is about saving lives through raising awareness, education, and compassion.”

Hui Min: “HIV testing plays a vita role in ending HIV (transmission) in Singapore by 2030”.

Calvin: “World AIDS Day reminds me to always fight for a better future for my community”.

As part of World AIDS Day, we are offering free HIV testing at both Anonymous Testing Service (ATS) and Mobile Testing Service (MTS) throughout December 2025. We encourage everyone to know their status and take proactive steps towards prevention and care.

For more information about ATS and MTS, visit afa.org.sg/ats or afa.org.sg/mts.

29/11/2025

PRESS RELEASE - AfA Launches Mobile HIV Testing Vehicle and Anti-Stigma Study for World AIDS Day 2025

Key pointers of our press release:

- AfA is launching a new MTS electric van! Replacing the diesel van that has been in use since MTS' 2011 launch, the upgraded van will help improve service experience for clients, volunteers and staff. 🚐

- This upgrade is possible through the support from generous donors. 🙏

- As part of World AIDS Day 2025, AfA will be offering free HIV testing at both its Anonymous Testing Service and Mobile Testing Service throughout December. 🎗️

- LOVE2025 Charity Gala was held on Friday, 28th November. Attended by 280 guests, the event raised more than $368,000 ❤️

- AfA conducted a survey on HIV-related stigma and discrimination from March to November 2025. Respondents who were living with HIV reported at least one instance of stigma or discrimination in the past 12 months. The next phase of the study will involve in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with people with HIV, to identify the core issues that affect their lives and develop strategies to address them. 📋

View full release: afa.org.sg/2025-11-29-press_release

27/11/2025

AfA’s gala glitz is back, and it’s sweeter than ever! The long-awaited LOVE 2025 charity gala is finally happening at the Four Seasons Hotel on 28th November 2025, raising funds for our HIV educational programmes and support services.

We are thrilled to share that all seats are sold out thanks to our generous donors! Nevertheless, anyone can still join in the spirit of the gala and the upcoming World AIDS Day by contributing to our mission. Visit donate.afa.org.sg today and help us bring HIV transmissions and stigma down to zero!

19/11/2025

This World AIDS Day, we are sitting down with Prof. (Dr) Roy Chan — a pivotal organiser, advocate, and medical professional in Singapore’s response to HIV and AIDS — for our next Storyteller Series by Singapore Q***r Memory Project (SQMP).

As the founder and president of AfA Singapore, Prof. Chan will take us back to the early years of HIV/AIDS awareness: the efforts to organise, the pushback and stigma they faced, and the crucial care work led by the le***an community in supporting their gay and bis*xual peers.

The conversation will be moderated by Dr Rayner Tan, an implementation and behavioural scientist whose work centres on stigma and health, community engagement, and health equity.

Date: 4 Dec 2025, Thursday
Time: 7pm–9pm
Venue: Proud Spaces

Register now via bit.ly/dr-roy-chan

***r

14/11/2025

🏆 Congratulations to the winner of MTS Design Competition, Design #7! Your design will be the basis of the AfA’s next mobile clinic van! 🏆

Thank you to all who participated in the contest, and for those who supported by voting. 💕

Don’t forget to plan your next HIV test at MTS! Schedule is available at afa.org.sg/mts

More info about our new MTS van to come soon, stay tuned! 🚐

05/11/2025

❗️Poll closes soon on 7 NOV 2025, 12pm! Vote for the next AfA MTS van design NOW!

🚐 View all 7 designs on our FB/IG profile and press the “Like” button to vote your favourite! 👍❤️

🏆 The winning design will be determined by both community votes and professional judges.

👏 All the best to our contest participants. Show your support for them today!

*Final design is subject to change by AfA Singapore.

afa.org.sg/MTSdesign

*xualhealth

01/11/2025

✅ Voting is now OPEN for the MTS Van Design Competition!

🚐 Browse all 7 design submissions within this post. To vote for your favourite, scroll to its specific image and press the “Like” button! 👍

🗓 Community voting closes by 12pm, 7 Nov 2025, so vote now!

🏆 The winning design will be determined by both community votes and professional judges. Community votes are counted through post Likes on the individual designs published on AfA Singapore’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Professional judges evaluate designs on their creativity, clarity, relevance, and practicality for printing.

👏 All the best to our contest participants. Show your support for them today!

*Final design is subject to change by AfA Singapore.

21/10/2025

Just THREE DAYS LEFT for AfA's MTS van design competition! Hurry and submit your entry by 24/10/2025

📌 Submit your creative design for our new MTS van and stand to win $1,000!
🎨 Showcase your talent in promoting HIV awareness through HIV Mobile Testing.
📅 Deadline: Oct 24, 2025
🌐 For info and design template, visit afa.org.sg/MTSdesign

Design Criteria
• Tagline: Know your status (no change from old MTS van)
• Must include AfA logo & hotline (6254 0212)
• Incorporate HIV awareness themes (e.g., red ribbon)
• Highlight inclusivity – all ages, genders, s*xualities
• Aim to normalize testing
• Clear, bold, easily recognizable design – but less clinical looking
• Van base color: silver (but full wraps in other colors, e.g. white, are allowed)
• Avoid stigmatizing/discriminatory imagery or language (e.g., “AIDS”,“PLHIV/PLWHA”) (Refer to peoplefirstcharter.org for appropriate language to be used)

Terms & Conditions
1. Eligibility: Open to public.
2. Originality: All submissions must be original and free from copyright infringement.
3. Submission Format: Digital files only (JPG/PNG/PDF). Mock-ups on a van template preferred.
4. Ownership: Winning design becomes the property of the organizers for use on the HIV Mobile Testing Service van and related promotions.
5. Credit: Designer will be acknowledged in campaign materials.
6. Judging:
- 50% professional judges based on creativity (30%), clarity (30%), relevance (40%), and practicality for printing
- 50% community votes
7. Timeline: Submissions to be done on bit.ly/MTSdesignsubmission latest by 24 October 2025, 12pm.
- Voting period: 1-14 November
- Results tally: 15-20 November
- Winners will be informed: 21 November
8. Prizes:
- Winner: $1,000
- 2 Runner-ups: $500 each
- Feature best designs at MTS launch event
- Token for every entry
9. Final design is subject to change by AfA Singapore.

20/10/2025

AfA Singapore wishes everyone a Happy Deepavali public holiday! May your days be filled with light, love, happiness, and peace. 🪔

12/09/2025

📌 Submit your creative design for our new MTS van and stand to win $1,000!
🎨 Showcase your talent in promoting HIV awareness through HIV Mobile Testing.
📅 Deadline: Oct 24, 2025
🌐 For info and design template, visit afa.org.sg/MTSdesign

Design Criteria
• Tagline: Know your status (no change from old MTS van)
• Must include AfA logo & hotline (6254 0212)
• Incorporate HIV awareness themes (e.g., red ribbon)
• Highlight inclusivity – all ages, genders, s*xualities
• Aim to normalize testing
• Clear, bold, easily recognizable design – but less clinical looking
• Van base color: silver (but full wraps in other colors, e.g. white, are allowed)
• Avoid stigmatizing/discriminatory imagery or language (e.g., “AIDS”,“PLHIV/PLWHA”) (Refer to peoplefirstcharter.org for appropriate language to be used)

Terms & Conditions
1. Eligibility: Open to public.
2. Originality: All submissions must be original and free from copyright infringement.
3. Submission Format: Digital files only (JPG/PNG/PDF). Mock-ups on a van template preferred.
4. Ownership: Winning design becomes the property of the organizers for use on the HIV Mobile Testing Service van and related promotions.
5. Credit: Designer will be acknowledged in campaign materials.
6. Judging:
- 50% professional judges based on creativity (30%), clarity (30%), relevance (40%), and practicality for printing
- 50% community votes
7. Timeline: Submissions to be done on bit.ly/MTSdesignsubmission latest by 24 October 2025, 12pm.
- Voting period: 1-14 November
- Results tally: 15-20 November
- Winners will be informed: 21 November
8. Prizes:
- Winner: $1,000
- 2 Runner-ups: $500 each
- Feature best designs at MTS launch event
- Token for every entry
9. Final design is subject to change by AfA Singapore.

22/08/2025