How did African Services begin its work in HIV/AIDS?
Kim: We had early roots in the consciousness of the epidemic. Well before warning bells sounded in the U.S. and Europe about AIDS in Africa, African Services was already aware of the catastrophe unfolding. With growing migration to New York City in the late 1980’s, we began seeing more clients with HIV infection and people coming to us as undocumented immigrants in need of health services. By 1991,we decided to develop a small HIV prevention program; little did we know that over time many, many more people from Africa and the Caribbean would need this critical help. AIDS catapulted African Services into a niche that needed us and we were well-suited to address.
