Black History Month: In conversation with Ese Johnson
This Black History Month, Waverley Care is celebrating the strength, identity and resilience of Scotland’s Black communities and highlighting the vital role that community, representation and compassion play in improving health and wellbeing for those living with and affected by HIV.
We spoke with Ese Johnson, Minority Ethnic Communities Manager at Waverley Care, whose work focuses on improving how we understand HIV and Hepatitis C across Minority Ethnic Communities in Scotland.
Through community outreach, continued education and establishing one-to-one, Ese helps people access life-saving testing and treatment, while tackling the stigma and misinformation that can stand in the way of good health.
Representation and Trust
For Ese, building trust is at the centre of everything he does. Within minority ethnic communities, conversations about blood borne viruses, especially HIV and Hepatitis C, carry multiple layers of fear, stigma and often in time silence. Breaking through that requires more than just information: it requires representation.
Ese says:
By representation, having members of the communities build these relationships is the only way to avoid a top-down approach.
At Waverley Care, this philosophy is lived every day, “We are able to build relationships with communities that then allow for the information and services we offer to be accepted,” Ese said. Working within communities directly allows for culturally relevant support that is trusted, understood, and embraced, not imposed.
For Ese, community is the foundation of his work, “Community is what makes the work I do possible. Having the trust and support of the people I relate to on a day- to-day is the only way I can keep doing what I do” he shared. Representation ensures that health messages come from trusted voices, empowering people to engage with services and take steps toward positive health outcomes.
In short, trust begins within the community. It reminds people that care belongs to everyone and true progress comes when communities feel empowered to lead the change themselves.
Breaking Barriers Through Understanding
We know that education and open conversation are at the core of addressing HIV and hepatitis C in minority ethnic communities.
For Ese, increasing awareness is about sharing facts and giving people the tools to feel confident, informed, and empowered.
“I wish more people understood the ways to prevent against Blood Borne Viruses and also how the treatments available can prevent onward spread,” Ese explained. “I believe people will be less scared of BBVs if they have this knowledge.”
However, stigma remains a major challenge. Silence and misinformation can prevent people from seeking testing, accessing treatment and speaking openly about their experiences. Ese says:
Stigma stops people from speaking openly and positively about blood borne viruses, and therefore there is no challenging misinformation and outdated knowledge that exists in people’s minds.
Breaking stigma requires visible, community-led examples of resilience. “An effective way to tackle this would be for more people living with blood borne viruses, especially prominent or well-respected members of the community, to speak openly and positively about how BBVs do not define their identity or make them a risk to others, thanks to effective treatment,” he added.
Through knowledge, open dialogue and empowerment, communities can challenge fear and misinformation, which creates spaces where people feel safe to learn, ask questions, whilst also accessing the support they need.
Community and Connection: The power of togetherness
At the heart of Ese’s work at Waverley Care is the power of community. Belonging and mutual support and respect are essential for promoting health and wellbeing, particularly in Black and minority ethnic communities where stigma or isolation can be barriers to care.
Ese explains that building genuine relationships allows information and services to reach those who might otherwise be excluded from mainstream health systems. By understanding cultural and social contexts, Waverley Care ensures that people feel respected when accessing care.
Community also serves as a source of resilience. Being part of supportive networks encourages individuals to engage with services, and share experiences, which collectively challenge stigma.
We are able to reach people who may have never been able to access mainstream services, either due to personal challenges or institutional barriers.
Through these connections, people gain not just access to care, but also confidence and understanding of their diagnosis.
Isolation, Ese notes, is one of the greatest challenges communities faces. “Isolation is the worst thing that could befall a person, and community is the only solution to that. My message will be for people to love and pull closer to others, rather than push them away because of whatever superficial differences they may have, such as the colour of their skin, a health condition, etc.” Being part of supportive networks encourages individuals to engage with services, share experiences, and collectively challenge stigma.
Identity and Reflection: How we can Honour the Past and Inspire the Future
Black History Month is a time for both reflection and celebration. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the struggles of Black communities, recognise achievements, and connect personal and collective histories to ongoing work in health and wellbeing.
It’s a reminder for me of the struggles of my community, the challenges overcome and the successes achieved. It is a reminder that there is a global community that I belong to and will always be supported by,” Ese shared.
Black History Month also underscores the importance of community in health advocacy. Ese emphasises that trust and support from the communities they serve are essential to making positive change possible. By leaning on shared experiences and cultural understanding, Waverley Care can address health inequalities and promote wellbeing in meaningful ways.
Inspiration comes from those who stand up against injustice while living with resilience and dignity. “A Nigerian musician called Fela, who stood up against injustice and oppression, and also lived with HIV, inspires me during this month,” Ese noted.
Ultimately, Black History Month reminds us that when communities stand together and celebrate who they are, we can create a healthier and more inclusive Scotland for everyone.
Hope and Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Ese hopes for a time when HIV and hepatitis no longer carry fear or shame in the community when everyone can access care, live with their diagnosis and feel supported by their community “My main hope will be for a day when HIV and hepatitis will no longer make people afraid, rejected or isolated,” He shared.
At Waverley Care, we believe that change begins in community and in every honest conversation, every act of compassion and every person who chooses to stand up for equality in health.
Together, we can end stigma and build a healthier, more connected future for everyone.
Contact Us
To find out more our services that support Minority Ethnic Communities in Scotland, email Ese.