Thursday, 7 December 2023, (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, along with other senior members of the CARICOM Secretariat met with a team from USAID Jamaica on December 4 and 5, 2023 at CARICOM Headquarters.

The discussions during the meetings focused on fostering greater cooperation and collaboration between both parties. The dialogue examined PANCAP’s role in the Caribbean HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 response and explored its involvement in the region’s pandemic preparedness as a part of global health security.  The possible expansion of PANCAP’s mandate within CARICOM, particularly concerning the critical issues of infectious diseases was also discussed. Further discussions are expected to be held at a later date on the way forward to arriving at the best practical solutions that are mutually beneficial.

The USAID representatives included Ms Pamela Foster, Director, Office of Environmental and Health (OEH), Ms Wendy Benzerga, Health Team Lead, OEH, and Dr Andrea Brooks-Hanson, Project Management Specialist, OEH.

Represented the CARICOM Secretariat were Deputy Secretary General, Dr Armstrong Alexis, Assistant Secretary General, Ms Alison Drayton, Director, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dr Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Senior Accountant PCU, Mr Collin Kirton, Programme Manager, Health Sector Development, Ms Tamara Bobb, and Communication Specialist, PCU, Mr Richard Francois.