ASC: News & Media

ASC Joins Cause for Establishing #NAIRHHA Day

ASC has signed on as an organization supporting the establishment of National African Immigrant & Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness Day (#NAIRHHA Day).

"After over thirty years of African immigration to the US, it’s time to recognize major health challenges among African communities—creating an HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis awareness day takes us another step forward in raising awareness and linking African immigrants and refugees to free testing and treatment services," ASC Co-Executive Director Kim Nichols said.

World Hepatitis Day and the First-Ever NYC World Hepatitis B Awareness Week

ASC took part in a five-borough World Hepatitis Day awareness campaign, followed by a "Freeze Mob" at Foley Square. World Hepatitis Day is recognized around the globe to raise awareness on the real-life impact of viral hepatitis. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 400 million people have chronic viral hepatitis worldwide and most of them do not know they are infected. More than 1 million people die each year from causes related to viral hepatitis, commonly cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is important to know the risk factors for hepatitis, talk to family and friends who may be at risk, speak to your health care provider about treatment and strategies to remain healthy.

Advocates Form Human Chain of Solidarity at Rally

The frustrations of immigrants were powerfully voiced recently in front of 26 Federal Plaza as African Services' Bakary Tandia, along with ASC clients, joined immigrant families, area leaders and immigrant rights organizations in a massive human chain of solidarity.

Trip to the North: Update on ASC Ethiopia's Testing, Care Clinics

African Services' co-executive director Kim Nichols recently returned from yet another eventful trip to Ethiopia, where she witnessed first hand all the exciting things she had been hearing about ASC's HIV testing and care clinics. Nichols' visit primarily focused on trips throughout the northern region of the country where ASC's three oldest clinics operate: Addis Ababa's Shola Market, Kombolcha, and Mekele.

News and Updates

ADVOCACY ALERT: Sessions Closes Major Path for Asylum Seekers

As reported in the New York Times June 11, ASC's Immigrant Community Law Center (ICLC) had an asylum hearing June 14, for our client, Blanca, whose domestic violence and gang based-claim is now in jeopardy because of a decision Attorney General Sessions issued recently, which strips protection from those who need it most -- asylum seekers.

NPR All Things Considered Speaks with ASC Staff on 2020 Census

NPR All Things Considered stopped by ASC to hear African Services staff opinions on the 2020 census.

"Are people willing to answer that question given the current anti-immigrant sentiment? That I can't tell," says Mulusew Bekele, the Director of Program Operations at African Services Commitee, who is Ethiopian-American.

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