NAMIO stands for National Association of Migrant Organisations against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STI's) in The Netherlands. NAMIO is an umbrella organization, an amalgamation of migrant organizations involved in the fight against the pandemic of HIV/AIDS and other STIs in The Netherlands. Migrants account for only 10% of the Dutch population, yet more than 43% of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Netherlands are migrants from non-western countries. This frightening statistics and specific deficiencies with reagrd to migrant sexual health care services within the Dutch health care system, motivated the establishment of NAMIO.

Health professionals and health policy advisors strongly concede the effectiveness of cultural approaches and considerations in prevention, care and support programs of HIV/AIDS and other STIs. The need to incorporate these elements in the Dutch health care system has been repeatedly uttered. This potentially effective approach is not yet well incorporated in the Health system. Thus, the regular Dutch health care remains rather less accessible to migrants. For years, a couple of migrant organizations/groups and migrant experts have been working together to identify and develop possibilities of strengthening and promoting cultural and community based approaches in the fight against HIV/AIDS in The Netherlands. The national migrant organization's platform (NAMIO) is realized from this process. NAMIO is a network organization with the primary objectives of promoting partnership and strengthening the capacities and services of migrant organizations. NAMIO is part of the society since 10th of October 2005. Click here for more on the history of NAMIO.