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PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, September 22, 2005 – The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) has successfully concluded a landmark Motivational Interviewing (MI) training programme at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Held from September 17 to 19, the intensive course equipped regional healthcare providers with advanced MI techniques to strengthen patient engagement and accelerate the Caribbean’s progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.

The programme, building on the success of a prior learning journey to Amsterdam earlier in the year, provided participants with a comprehensive, in-depth exploration of MI, a patient-centred communication technique proven to enhance recruitment and retention in HIV prevention and treatment. Participants explored the spirit and process of MI, from engaging challenging patients and evoking change talk to concrete planning for behaviour change.

The curriculum blended theory with practical, hands-on demonstrations and role-playing sessions, ensuring participants could immediately integrate the knowledge and skills learned into their respective clinics and community settings.

“This training represents a transformative step in our regional HIV response,” said Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU). “By equipping healthcare providers with motivational interviewing skills, we are fostering deeper trust between clinicians and patients. This approach will not only improve adherence to PrEP and treatment but also empower individuals to take ownership of their health, bringing us closer to achieving the 95-95-95 targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat in the Caribbean.” The training also focused on the latest scientific evidence and global guidelines, ensuring participants left with both the requisite communication skills and technical knowledge to provide cutting-edge care.

“Participants left motivated and equipped to cascade these skills within their health systems,” Dr. Emanuelson added. “We have now empowered a core group of champions who will return to their respective countries not just to practice these skills, but to cascade them, creating a multiplier effect that will strengthen our entire health system’s response.”

Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Knowledge Management Coordinator at the PCU, emphasised the training’s strategic importance: “The proficiency our clinicians demonstrated in integrating MI into their consultation process will create ripple effects across health systems. This isn’t just about individual skills, it’s about building a more compassionate, effective HIV response that leaves no one behind.”

The training programme represents PANCAP’s continued commitment to strengthening regional capacity and accelerating progress toward reaching the 95-95-95 targets through innovative, evidence-based approaches and aligns with the forthcoming Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) 2026–2030, which prioritises innovation, health system integration, and community-led solution

PANCAP extends sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the Pan-American Health Organization, and The Global Fund for making this training possible.

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About The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine was established in 1952 as Florida’s first medical school, with just four faculty members and 28 medical students in its inaugural class. Since then, the Miller School has grown to become an internationally recognized institution with more than 1,700 faculty members, 48 centers and institutes, 29 clinical and basic science departments, and an average annual class cohort of more than 200 students.

As one of the top National Institutes of Health-funded medical schools in Florida, the Miller School is at the vanguard of cutting-edge discoveries. From our leading genetics/genomics program to our contributions in the fields of cellular therapeutics, cancer care, immune therapies, and much more, the Miller School is at the forefront of advances in translational medicine and clinical care.

Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana, 12 September, 2025 – The Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), in collaboration with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and with support from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and The Global Fund, will host a high-impact Strengthening HIV Prevention and Treatment Services Training Programme, from September 17–19, 2025, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. Building on the groundbreaking PANCAP Learning Journey held earlier this year at Amsterdam’s renowned Public Health Service (GGD Amsterdam), this Miami training will further equip regional frontline healthcare providers with advanced skills in motivational interviewing (MI) and other cutting-edge clinical strategies. The Amsterdam session demonstrated remarkable success in enhancing providers’ ability to engage high-risk populations in PrEP programmes and re-engage people living with HIV who have fallen out of care.

The training will assemble clinical leaders from several Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, The British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Participants will include physicians, nurses, and community health specialists representing both public health systems and civil society organisations, ensuring comprehensive knowledge transfer across all levels of care.

This intensive capacity-building initiative comes at a critical juncture as the region works assiduously to overcome persistent challenges in reaching UNAIDS’ ambitious 95-95-95 prevention targets by 2030.

“This isn’t just another training, it’s a strategic intervention to change the trajectory of HIV in our region,” emphasised Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director of the PANCAP Coordination Unit. “By mastering motivational interviewing techniques and applying the latest evidence-based approaches, our regional clinicians will become powerful change agents in their communities, particularly in reaching marginalised populations most in need of these services.”

Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Knowledge Management Coordinator at the PCU, underscored that, “The Amsterdam Learning Journey proved that when clinicians adopt patient-centred approaches, outcomes improve dramatically. This training on motivational interviewing will allow for a differentiated and client-centred approach to recruit, initiate and retain persons on HIV prevention and treatment services, helping us close gaps in the HIV care continuum and achieve the global targets.”

With Caribbean nations facing uneven progress toward HIV targets, this training addresses critical gaps in the regional HIV response.

The programme’s unique value lies in its “train-the-trainer” approach, ensuring participants can share their new skills with their colleagues back home. This creates sustainable capacity that will continue benefiting health systems throughout the region long after the Miami session concludes.

This training programme is a critical step toward revitalising HIV prevention and treatment efforts in the Caribbean. By empowering clinicians with evidence-based tools, PANCAP and its partners aim to reduce new infections, improve retention in care, and accelerate progress toward ending AIDS as a regional public health threat by 2030.

PANCAP graciously thanks The Global Fund, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and PAHO for making this pivotal training experience a reality.

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About The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine was established in 1952 as Florida’s first medical school, with just four faculty members and 28 medical students in its inaugural class. Since then, the Miller School has grown to become an internationally recognized institution with more than 1,700 faculty members, 48 centers and institutes, 29 clinical and basic science departments, and an average annual class cohort of more than 200 students.

As one of the top National Institutes of Health-funded medical schools in Florida, the Miller School is at the vanguard of cutting-edge discoveries. From our leading genetics/genomics program to our contributions in the fields of cellular therapeutics, cancer care, immune therapies, and much more, the Miller School is at the forefront of advances in translational medicine and clinical care.

Kingston, July 10, 2025—Data from the latest Global AIDS Update Report, released by UNAIDS, shows the Caribbean recorded a 62% reduction in AIDS-related deaths, between 2010 and 2024, the steepest decline among eight regions globally. 

According to the report—AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform, over the last fifteen years, there has been a 54% decline in AIDS-related deaths globally. The Caribbean is well above the global average at 62%. The report credits the widespread availability of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for the progress made since 2010. Reductions have also been recorded in West & Central Africa (60%), Eastern & Southern Africa (59%), Asia & the Pacific (53%), Western & Central Europe and North America (48%), Latin America (31%) and the Middle East & North Africa (6%) while Eastern Europe & Central Asia reported a 48% increase over the same period.

UNAIDS commended governments, communities of people living with and most affected by HIV, and key partners, including PEPFAR and The Global Fund, among others for the progress made across the region. “The Caribbean’s stellar performance and achievements are commendable. It shows the resilience of a region constrained by a myriad of social, economic and other challenges such as high debt, declining external funding, and natural disasters and how critical political leadership is to safeguard people’s health without distinction,” Dr Richard Amenyah, the Director of UNAIDS Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean said. “Despite the ongoing challenges, the Caribbean continues to show that great things can be achieved when governments and all stakeholders, including people living with HIV and key populations, work together to protect and promote good health and well-being,” Amenyah said. 

In 2010, only 53,000 people living with HIV were on treatment in the Caribbean. 13,000 adults and children lost their lives due to AIDS-related conditions that year. However, by 2024, this number climbed to 250,000 people on treatment—with 50,000 of them added between 2020 and 2024. Today, 85% of people living with HIV in the Caribbean know their status, 74% are on treatment, and 66% are virally suppressed (up from 33% in 2017). Last year, deaths declined to 4,800 deaths (down from 6,100 people in 2020).

While the organisation applauds stakeholders for the progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths, UNAIDS said it is concerned about the rate of decline in new infections across the region. Noting that the progress is insufficient to reach the targets to end AIDS, UNAIDS urged political leaders, healthcare workers and other stakeholders to do more to prevent new HIV infections.

Globally, new HIV infections have been reduced by 40% since 2010 but only 21% of new infections have been reduced in the Caribbean. In 2024, there were 15,000 new infections with Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica accounting for 90% (Haiti contributed 38%) and young people (15–24 years) account for 25% of new infections overall.

UNAIDS’ new report emphasizes integrating HIV into broader health systems, strengthening partnerships with CSOs and communities, and addressing social determinants like stigma and discrimination to prevent new HIV infections, especially among young people and key populations and prevent treatment interruptions. Caribbean governments are also being encouraged to take greater ownership to navigate geopolitical funding shifts, ensuring financial and programmatic sustainability to achieve the 2030 goal of ending AIDS. 

Noting that domestic funding for the HIV response moved from 30% in 2023 to 38% in 2024, UNAIDS said more needs to be done to achieve the internationally agreed targets to end AIDS as a public health threat. “Governments must continue to prioritize increasing domestic resources, integrate HIV into broader health systems, innovate to keep people living with HIV on treatment toward achieving viral suppression and ensure equitable access for young people and key populations to prevent new infections. Only through sustained partnership and greater country ownership can we end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in the region,” Amenyah said.

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Contact

UNAIDS Caribbean | Jaevion Nelson | tel. +1 876 459 3211 | nelsonj@unaids.org

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Tuesday 08 April 2025 – (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat), Georgetown, Guyana – Caribbean public health leaders have concluded a transformative South-to-South Learning Journey hosted by the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam), The Netherlands, from 31 March to 4 April 2025. The initiative focused on advancing HIV prevention through innovative strategies and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into healthcare service delivery.

The week-long exchange convened Caribbean clinicians, policymakers, and community leaders who explored GGD Amsterdam’s comprehensive approach to HIV prevention. The programme covered topics such as Long-Acting Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Doxy PEP, Mpox response, and integrated care for ageing populations. Participants engaged in immersive workshops, site visits, and meaningful discussions with civil society organisations representing marginalised groups.

A highlight of the exchange was the daily vision board exercise, in which delegates identified national HIV prevention gaps and developed actionable work plans. These strategies, informed by host country practices and peer experiences, focused on scaling up testing, promoting community-led solutions, and increasing uptake of prevention tools such as PrEP through differentiated service delivery models.

Throughout the exchange, participants reflected on how the knowledge gained could be adapted to their local contexts. Particular interest was shown in motivational interviewing to enhance patient engagement and empowerment in HIV care. This technique transforms HIV care from a transactional process to a shared journey of trust and agency. Using digital tools to improve efficiency and privacy in STI clinics was another area where participants examined the many benefits of digital innovation in dismantling stigma at STI clinics.

The role of healthcare providers in addressing stigma and discrimination was also a key theme. Participants explored tools like the academic wheel of privilege to foster greater self-awareness and more inclusive care. But the most profound lessons unfolded beyond theory during site visits to communities of marginalised populations.  These underscored the importance of patient-centred, rights-based services in creating safe and supportive environments—even within resource-limited settings.

Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Coordinator of Knowledge Management at the PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU), emphasised the exchange’s impact:
“This learning journey provided more than just knowledge transfer—it’s igniting change. The strategies we’ve seen in Amsterdam, from AI-driven outreach to community-led care, are not just innovative; they’re lifelines we can adapt to bridge gaps in the Caribbean. Our vision boards are now blueprints for action.”

Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director of the PCU, underscored the importance of integration and collaboration in driving the regional HIV response:
“Participants were reminded of the benefits of integrating social determinants of health, harm reduction, and low-threshold services to reach the most marginalised groups. Services are offered with dignity and confidentiality, ensuring all receive judgment-free support. The concept of a ‘Stigma-Free’ environment moved from theory to practice as participants observed how GGD designed systems that empower users. Peer support is embedded throughout service delivery. Clients aren’t just recipients; they are co-creators of solutions. This approach echoed PANCAP’s ongoing advocacy for rights-based programming, where communities most affected by HIV are engaged meaningfully in decision-making processes.”

PANCAP will provide tailored technical assistance to support the execution of country work plans, with formal follow-ups at three- and six-month intervals to monitor and evaluate progress. This exchange not only strengthened regional HIV prevention efforts but also established lasting partnerships between Caribbean and Dutch public health professionals.

PANCAP thanks The Global Fund, PAHO, GGD Amsterdam, and other key partners for supporting this dynamic knowledge-sharing initiative.

28 March 2025, Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), Georgetown, Guyana – The Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam) will host a transformative South-to-South Learning Exchange, uniting Caribbean public health leaders, clinicians, and civil society advocates with Dutch experts to advance HIV prevention and care for priority groups, from 31 March to 4 April, 2025. Supported by The Global Fund, PANCAP, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this immersive event aims to strengthen HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention strategies across the Caribbean by fostering knowledge-sharing, innovation, and cross-regional partnerships.

Key Focus Areas 

The exchange will spotlight GGD Amsterdam’s pioneering models in Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), including Long-Acting PrEP, HIV testing, Doxy PEP, transgender care, and the integration of AI and technology into service delivery. Participants from Barbados, Belize, The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago will engage in the following:

• Site Visits: To explore GGD Amsterdam’s clinics to observe intake systems, STI/HIV testing protocols, and partnerships with local organisations providing HIV services.
• Innovation Workshops: To learn how Artificial Intelligence (AI), other Integrated Communication Technologies (ICTs), and data-driven strategies enhance HIV prevention.
• Vision Board Development: To collaborate on country-specific action plans to address gaps in PrEP rollout, stigma reduction, and equitable service delivery.

Expert Leadership

Professor Dr. Henry de Vries, a leading expert in STI/HIV epidemiology with over 30 years of experience, will guide technical discussions alongside GGD Amsterdam’s team. Participants will also meet with GGD Amsterdam’s leadership and technical staff to gain an understanding of patient flow and the organisation of clinical and community outreach services. They will also interact with GGD Amsterdam’s partners to gain insight into their collaboration and partnership models.

Building Sustainable Networks

Participants will draft actionable work plans to strengthen national HIV programs, with a sharp focus on:

1. Scaling up access to PrEP and nPEP.
2. Enhancing collaboration with civil society groups.
3. Integrating viral hepatitis and HPV care into HIV services.

“This South-to-South exchange will empower participants to absorb GGD Amsterdam’s proven strategies – from AI-driven service delivery to equitable PrEP access – while fostering hands-on learning in transgender care, STI integration, and community-led partnerships,” said Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management at the PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU). “This is not just knowledge transfer—it’s about building lasting partnerships in the global fight against HIV,” she added.

“Empowering Caribbean leaders with Amsterdam’s proven strategies will undoubtedly help to fast-track our region’s progress toward ending AIDS,” said Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director, PCU. “This exchange presents a unique opportunity to bridge Amsterdam’s expertise with the Caribbean’s resilience, catalysing progress across our region in ending AIDS as a public health threat,” added Dr. Telgt Emanuelson.

Following the event, PANCAP will conduct follow-up assessments with participants at three- and six-month intervals to evaluate implementation.

PANCAP thanks The Global Fund, PAHO, GGD Amsterdam and other key partners for their support of this knowledge-sharing initiative.

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About The Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam): GDD Amsterdam is a leader in public health innovation. GGD Amsterdam manages one of Europe’s largest HIV cohorts and delivers targeted services to key populations, including MSM, transgender individuals, and sex workers.

Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 19 March 2025 — The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) successfully convened its Ninth Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners from across the Caribbean region in Trinidad and Tobago this week.

The high-level gathering brought together policymakers, health experts, civil society leaders, and international development partners to accelerate progress toward ending the HIV epidemic through shared strategies, actionable commitments, and strengthened regional collaboration.

Participants engaged in dynamic discussions on scaling up testing and treatment access, reducing stigma and discrimination, and integrating innovative data-driven approaches into public health strategies. Key outcomes included renewed pledges to mobilize domestic funding, enhance the resilience of the health systems, and prioritize community-led initiatives to reach vulnerable populations.

Key Outcomes and Next Steps

Integration: 

A sharp focus was placed on integrating HIV services into the broader regional public health system to enhance service delivery by fostering efficiency, accessibility, and holistic care.

Participants agreed that by embedding HIV testing, treatment, and prevention within routine health services—such as maternal health clinics, primary care, or tuberculosis programmes—health systems will be able to reduce duplication of resources, lower costs, and streamline patient experiences. This approach diminishes stigma, as individuals access HIV care alongside other health needs, encouraging earlier diagnosis and treatment adherence.

Placing adolescent health at the centre of the regional HIV response:

Focus was also placed on integrating adolescent-centred care into the national sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programmes, which is critical to addressing the dual challenges of adolescent health disparities and the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean.

It was noted that adolescents in the region face heightened vulnerabilities due to limited access to youth-friendly SRH services, pervasive stigma, and socio-cultural barriers that deter help-seeking behaviours. With the Caribbean maintaining one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates outside sub-Saharan Africa, tailored interventions—such as comprehensive sexuality education, confidential HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and antiretroviral therapy access—are essential to curb HIV transmission and improve outcomes among adolescents.

Addressing other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):

Participants discussed the urgent need for Caribbean health leaders to place greater emphasis on the growing threat of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) beyond HIV, particularly syphilis, which has seen concerning resurgences in the region.

While strides in HIV prevention are commendable, participants observed that inadequate attention to syphilis and other STIs risks reversing progress, as untreated infections can lead to severe complications, neonatal mortality, and heightened HIV transmission risks. Participants agreed that by crafting inclusive policies or refining current strategies to prioritise these infections, leaders can safeguard vulnerable populations, reduce long-term healthcare burdens, and align with global health equity goals.

The new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework:

PANCAP is currently engaged in comprehensive consultations to develop the new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF), a pivotal initiative that aims to guide the HIV response through 2030. These consultations bring together governments, civil society organisations, healthcare providers, technical partners, such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and donor agencies like The Global Fund, to ensure a collaborative and inclusive approach.

The framework aims to integrate innovative solutions, such as PrEP and community-led interventions, while aligning with global targets, including Sustainable Development Goal 3, to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat.

PANCAP reaffirmed its dedication to sustaining momentum through regular progress reviews and enhanced technical support to member countries. The meeting closed with a collective resolve to prioritise equity, human rights, and multi-sectoral cooperation as pillars of the Caribbean’s HIV response.

PANCAP sincerely thanks the CARICOM Secretariat, The Global Fund, UNAIDS, PAHO, and other partners for their support of the Ninth Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners.

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Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 18 March 2025 – The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) today launched its Ninth Annual Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers, uniting policymakers, civil society organizations, development partners, and advocates in a bold convergence of strategy and solidarity.

Against the backdrop of shared challenges and triumphs, delegates from across the region gathered to reimagine the future of the regional HIV response, driven by a unified mission: to fast-track progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. With innovation, data-driven solutions, and community empowerment at the forefront, the opening ceremony underscored the Caribbean’s unwavering resolve to turn the tide on inequities and write a new chapter in the fight against HIV.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Coordinator of Knowledge Management, PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU), noted that this year we are taking stock of our 95-95-95 targets and recalibrating towards the goal of ending AIDS by 2030. “At 85-83-87, our deliberations over the next two days will focus on the successes in the Region; but moreover, we must be laser-focused on strategies to address the challenges and gaps. We will discuss approaches to scale up successful evidence-based innovations and introduce newer prevention and treatment tools, such as long-acting injectables for PrEP and point-of-care diagnosis for HIV treatment monitoring and the diagnosis of opportunistic infections,” she added.

Recognizing the challenges that lie ahead as the Caribbean moves forward to meeting the 2030 HIV prevention targets, Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuleson, Director, PCU, charged participants to explore innovative local solutions to alleviate the impacts of the paucity of international donor funding on regional HIV programming.  “I am aware that, given the uncertainty of the donor funding platform alongside a clear and present need for programme continuation and scale-up in some instances, the road ahead may seem endless. Therefore, it is essential to utilize this opportunity to encourage each of us, as a partnership, to explore homegrown, domestically-owned solutions which will enable us to bring our creativity and renewed spirit to bear, allowing us to rise to the occasion, just as we have done before.”

Ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV and AIDS was the clarion call of Dr. Dale Babb, Senior Medical Officer of Health responsible for HIV /AIDS in Barbados. “Together, we are working towards very ambitious international targets. Targets that demand innovation, collaboration, and a relentless focus on equity. We need to ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone, no matter where they live, what they look like, or their circumstances, can access the services they need,” Dr. Babb emphasized.

Mr. Ivan Cruickshank, Executive Director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, emphasized the vital role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the regional HIV response. “Civil society and communities remain key to the HIV response, especially in reaching our key and affected populations, offering not only services but also hope, dignity, and empowerment.” He added, “It is through strong collaborative efforts across partners that we will have the best chance of reaching our goal of ending AIDS in our lifetime. Changing donor priorities have revealed the vulnerability of CSOs across the region, with several having to scale back or close operations due to their reliance on external funding. If this issue is not addressed, our national programmes stand to lose significant gains.”

Dr. Armstrong Alexis, Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat, in his remarks, recognized the remarkable strides the Caribbean has made against HIV, achieving significant milestones such as reducing transmission rates, expanding access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy and pioneering early efforts to reduce and, in some cases, eliminate mother-to-child transmission. He noted that despite the numerous persistent challenges, the Caribbean people must prevail in the march towards an AIDS-free Caribbean.

“At the CARICOM Secretariat, we recognise that the work you do is at the heart of our Region’s development agenda. Health, equity, and resilience are not just aspirations; they are the foundation of a stronger, more sustainable Caribbean.  While the road to achieving our targets may not always be smooth, the CARICOM Secretariat remains steadfast in its support to each of you, to each Member State, and to the communities we serve together,” Dr. Alexis stated.

Delivering the feature address was the Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, who outlined his country’s progress and strategies in combating HIV alongside regional calls to action for the Caribbean.

The Minister charged participants to explore sustainable investments in HIV programmes, further reduce stigma, foster better collaboration, and leverage emerging technologies. “According to data from PANCAP, the most recent cascade for the Caribbean is 85-83-87. In addition, we have had a 22% reduction in new HIV infections from 2010 to the present. The Caribbean has always been stronger together. Now, more than ever, we must work as a unified region to achieve our shared goal of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030. It is my hope that we can address the following: 1. Strengthen Surveillance & Data Sharing – A regional database to monitor programmatic data, including drug resistance trends and treatment gaps, and 2. Standardised Clinical Practice Guidelines – Utilising the WHO Frameworks as a Benchmark.

As the opening ceremony drew to a close, the energy in Port of Spain mirrored the Caribbean’s collective heartbeat—resilient, hopeful, and unyielding. With bold pledges to amplify prevention, dismantle stigma, and ensure equitable access to care, the meeting’s opening day set a transformative tone. As stakeholders prepare for two days of intensive dialogue, one message rings clear: the Caribbean is not merely striving to meet targets—it is forging a legacy of health justice for generations to come.

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