Avert is an international charity that uses digital communications to increase health literacy on
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
and
sexual health
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, healthcare, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual wellbeing during all stages of their life.
The term can also be further de ...
, among those most affected in areas of greatest need, in order to reduce new infections and improve health and well-being.
It works in partnership with organisations in countries most affected by HIV to develop and promote digital HIV and sexual health content and resources that are accurate, accessible, useful, and actionable. It focuses on digital communications to reach people online in spaces they are already spending time.
Avert’s work supports global efforts to end AIDS and achieve the
Sustainable Development Goal
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...
for
Health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
.
Avert is based in
Brighton
Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
, UK, with staff members also based in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
Current strategy
Avert’s strategy has three objectives focused on increasing knowledge, confidence, skills and evidence-based practices among specific targeted audiences, in order to drive improvements in health literacy, self-efficacy, uptake of services, and quality of community and local health worker responses.
1. Increase the HIV and sexual health-related knowledge, skills and confidence of those most at risk of HIV and poor sexual health, and those living with HIV.
2. Expand and deepen the knowledge, skills and confidence of educators and advocates working on local responses to HIV and sexual health.
3. Support evidence-based practice among primary HIV and sexual health practitioners.
Current projects
Avert.org
For over 27 years, th
Avert.org websiteprovided clear and trusted information about HIV and AIDS. The site changed many times as technology developed. In 2015, the Avert.org website had a major redesign, with a focus on mobile users.
The website was divided into two main areas – public and professional. The public section of the site provided information for individual on
sexual health
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, healthcare, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual wellbeing during all stages of their life.
The term can also be further de ...
, HIV and
STIs
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) is a spectrograph, also with a camera mode, installed on the Hubble Space Telescope. Aerospace engineer Bruce Woodgate of the Goddard Space Flight Center was the principal investigator and crea ...
, and relationships – including personal stories from the site's users. It offered reassurance to people newly diagnosed with HIV and dispelled dangerous myths about HIV and AIDS. The professional section of the site provided a thoroughly researched and referenced resource on the global epidemic, alongside an up-to-date news service to inform people working in HIV programming, policy or research, health workers, teachers and students.
In line with the changing needs of the HIV epidemic, the Avert.org website was decommissioned in March 2022 with the learning and evidence it generated used to develop a new youth-focused sexual health brand
Be in the KNOW During its lifetime, Avert.org reached over 215 million people.
Endorsements and accreditations
Avert endorses the Principles for Digital Development and is a Gold standard endorser. Avert is also a signatory of the UK Patient Information Forum’s Health and Digital Literacy Charter. It also endorses the Pleasure Project’s ‘Pleasure Principles’, committing to a sex-positive approach to sexual health and rights.
In 2021, Avert was accredited by the Patient Information Forum (PIF). Avert has the ‘PIF TICK’ quality mark, ensuring the health information it produces is of the highest quality, clear and accurate.
In January 2015, Avert became a certified member of the Information Standard, a UK National Health Service (NHS) accreditation that recognises trustworthy health information.
Awards
In 2012, Avert.org won the Nominet Internet Award
under the 'Online Training and Education' category, in association with the British Library.
In 2005 the Avert.org website won the
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association's headquar ...
's Patient Information Award for Websites.
History and early work
Avert was founded in 1986, by Peter Kanabus and his wife Annabel, daughter of former
Sainsbury's
J Sainsbury plc, trading as Sainsbury's, is the second largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, with a 14.6% share of UK supermarket sales.
Founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury with a shop in Drury Lane, London, the company wa ...
chairman
Robert Sainsbury
Sir Robert James Sainsbury (24 October 19062 April 2000), was the son of John Benjamin Sainsbury (the eldest son of John James Sainsbury, the founder of Sainsbury's supermarkets) and along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and ...
. In its first fifteen years the charity focused on producing educational publications and funding HIV-related educational, social and medical research.
A number of Avert's publications, such as the ''AIDS: Working With Young People'' (1993) teaching pack were based on substantial educational research. In addition many thousands of AVERT's booklets were distributed in the UK each year, covering such topics as
sex education
Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual acti ...
,
sexuality
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...
and HIV.
Medical research funded by Avert included the first ever study of the effect of pregnancy on the progression of HIV disease, and social research included studies of HIV and
drug use in UK prisons.
The Avert.org website was launched in 1995 in order to provide education about prevention of HIV and support for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. In 2022 the website was replaced b
Beintheknow.orgoffering a more tailored resource, primarily for individuals in East and Southern Africa, and for the community health workers and primary practitioners that support them.
In 2001 the charity decided to concentrate on two key areas of work: its information and education website Avert.org website, and its programme work outside of the UK in countries with a particularly high or rapidly increasing rate of HIV infection.
The charity's work made headlines in 2008 when South African doctor Colin Pfaff was suspended from his post for supplying HIV positive, pregnant women with the antiretroviral drug
AZT
Zidovudine (ZDV), also known as azidothymidine (AZT), is an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally recommended for use in combination with other antiretrovirals. It may be used to prevent mother-to-child ...
, which had been paid for by Avert. At the time the South African government had not approved the use of AZT to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, even though it was recommended by the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...
and was widely used in other developing countries. Rural doctors, scientists, AIDS activists and organisations rallied in support of Pfaff, and the charges were subsequently dropped.
In 2014, outputs of research funded by Avert (the Care in the Home Study) exploring challenges facing caregivers in rural South Africa was published in the PLOS ONE journal.
Until 2020, Avert funded a range of projects in developing countries. Avert worked with a variety of organisations, including
Sangram in southwest
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
Tholulwazi Uzivikelein
KwaZulu Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locat ...
. Th
Umunthu Foundationin
Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
Sisonkein
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, Phelisanang Bophelong in
Lesotho
Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
, and Bwafwano Integrated Services Organisation (BISO) in
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
.
References
External links
Avert websiteBe in the KNOW websiteBoost websiteYouth Voices comic creatorAvert’s HIV timeline
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avert
HIV/AIDS organisations in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 1986
Health charities in the United Kingdom
British medical websites
Organisations based in Brighton and Hove
Organisations based in East Sussex
1986 establishments in England
Foreign charities operating in South Africa
Foreign charities operating in Malawi
Foreign charities operating in Lesotho
Foreign charities operating in Zambia