News Article – Page 3

Multi-Stakeholder approach needed for engaging Key Populations in the end AIDS Agenda

TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2021: The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Platform (Plataforma Regional) facilitated an experience exchange between LAC Multi-country HIV grants. The exchange allowed implementers from Alianza Liderazgo en Positivo (HIV Positive Leadership) or ALEP Hivos and the CARICOM-PANCAP-CVC-COIN multi-country grants to share success stories and experiences to enhance implementation effectiveness and foster improvements.

The experiences shared focused on grant implementation during the last two (2) years.

Mr Ivan Cruickshank, Executive Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), presented on behalf of the PANCAP-CVC-COIN multi-country grant. The primary objective of the grant was to provide sustainable prevention, treatment and care services for key populations in the Caribbean. The sub- recipients included the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CVC, El Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Med Labs Foundation (CMLF), Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+) and the Cuban National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX).

The ten (10) beneficiary countries included Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The grant aimed to achieve social contracting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), government commitment to resources for HIV, updated integrated guidelines for HIV programming, among others.

The challenges highlighted by Mr Cruickshank included coordination and implementation in a virtual environment, slow responses from countries due to the focus on COVID-19, and prioritisation of other public health issues over HIV. He explained that COVID-19 country restrictions also hindered the movement of goods and services. Mr Cruickshank indicated that CVC staff were diverted to other activities due to the pandemic, which slowed the implementation of grant deliverables. In addition, CSOs scaled back operations due to COVID-19 and grant implementation staff being quarantined caused further delays.

Mr Cruickshank also underscored that several beneficiary countries had political barriers to grant implementation.

Mr Hache Barreda from ALEP Hivos explained that the grant aimed to increase domestic funding for interventions aimed at People Living with HIV (PLHIV) – including key subpopulations with HIV–and the mobilisation of resources for organisations of PLHIV; the promotion of the institutionalisation of political, technical and financial strategies to reduce inequalities in access to comprehensive health services for PLHIV in the Latin American region, and the promotion of strategic information on PLHIV–including key subpopulations with HIV–for decision-making processes.

Priority countries included Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.

Mr Barreda indicated that the challenges experienced included political barriers preventing CSO organisations from implementing interventions and COVID-19 country restrictions, including lockdowns and limited movement. He also highlighted that there are challenges creating alliances with CSO organisations due to COVID-19.

Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, praised the LAC Regional Platform for facilitating the interaction between the Caribbean and Latin America grant implementers. He underscored the importance of sharing experiences related to challenges experienced by CSOs and navigating political barriers for improved grant implementation.

Dr Adams highlighted that the common factor that emerged from the experiences is a need for a multi-stakeholder approach to grant implementation that involves CSOs, governments, youth, faith and community leaders and opinion leaders.

Participants posed questions regarding the challenge of a lack of “digital literacy” among CSOs and limited access to facilities and knowledge on using virtual platforms effectively.

Mr Cruickshank agreed that limited digital literacy among CSOs was a challenge with grant implementation. He explained that training programmes within the grant were designed with that in mind, including virtual support and mentorship. He also explained that incentives were provided, including providing mobile phone data to CSOs for their participation.

Mr Cruickshank proposed approaching grant implementation from a broader quality of life perspective. He explained that the approach involves considering the economic challenges experienced by key populations, especially in light of the jobs lost due to COVID-19. “Alleviating lack of income, limited access to data and technology and other challenges related to the quality of life is integral to the successful engagement of key populations”, stated Mr Cruickshank.

He explained that the lack of human rights for key populations hinders the implementation of grant objectives. He proposed utilising a broader human rights approach to ensure that key populations are included in the conversation at all human rights forums.

The experience exchange concluded with participants calling for a multi-stakeholder approach for grant implementation, including the full involvement of governments, key populations, youth and community leaders.

– ENDS –

Changing social norms around gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights

The Caribbean Family Planning Association (CFPA), in collaboration with the St Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA) and the St. Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA), is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with the Movement Accelerator project of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Dubbed ‘Winning Narratives’, this initiative aims to change social norms around gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The CFPA has launched a strategic research and communication process with men and boys in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to better understand the perceptions of gender and gender-based violence (GBV) among men and boys to develop more effective GBV prevention messages and strategies.

A fundamental shift in approach is needed to address GBV. Current ways of thinking and working on this issue have had less impact than desired, without the much-needed transformation of fundamental values and actions of persons and communities, despite decades of work and millions of dollars expended. Unfortunately, violence against persons based on their gender remains exceedingly high in the Caribbean, with newly released data from 2020 confirming that nearly half of Caribbean women face at least one form of violence: physical, sexual, economic, or emotional. (UN Women Caribbean). Caribbean societies are also reported to have a high tolerance for GBV, which is rooted in the prevalence of patriarchy and inequalities legitimized by cultures and religions.

According to the CFPA President, Dr Rosmond Adams: “We must include men as an important part of the solution in ending GBV. CFPA calls on communities across the Caribbean to address the high tolerance of harmful masculinities. Ending GBV is the responsibility of the whole community. It is important to engage men and boys as active participants and agents of change to rid our societies of this horrible scourge. It is also critical to address systemic forms of violence, recognizing that violence is prevalent in societies that condone and encourage it in various forms.”

The Winning Narratives (advocacy) initiative aims to improve critical understanding of and responses to GBV by focusing on men and boys, who often enter into the narrative of GBV primarily as perpetrators. We believe that men and boys have a vital positive role in ending GBV and transforming oppressive notions of gender that continue to plague our societies.

To heal from generations of trauma and build healthy communities, we need new narratives built on empathy for each other and understanding of our collective struggles. The research will provide men and boys with an opportunity to critically examine their understanding of gender construction and relationships, along with their knowledge of and experiences with GBV, to contribute to shaping new national conversations where men and boys can be viewed as positive contributors to societal wellbeing.

For more information, contact:

Rev Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Chief Executive Officer- Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA), ceo.cfpa@gmail.com; + (268) 776-1518 (WhatsApp)
Mrs Geralda Bray, Executive Director, St Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA); slppaed@candw.lc; 1 (758) 719-8007
Mr Ademola Williams- Youth Coordinator, St Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA); youtham2015@gmail.com; 1 (784) 495-1360

People Living with HIV urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, Guyana, urges Persons Living with HIV to protect themselves against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.

During the COVID-19 update on Monday, Minister Anthony noted that this is important because the immune system of a Person Living with HIV is more susceptible to the virus, especially if that person is not on medication.

“It is recommended that persons with HIV take the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s going to protect them. The benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the risk of being vaccinated. In some cases, persons whose immune systems are compromised, some of those patients it’s also recommended that they get a third dose of the vaccine or a booster shot,” Dr Anthony said.

He said persons could use any of the vaccines available in Guyana, which are being used for the adult population. These include the Johnson and Johnson, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, or Astra Zeneca.

The minister noted that persons currently taking ARVs (antiretrovirals) or PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) should not worry about adverse effects of the vaccine, as these work differently in the body.

“The mechanism of action are totally different; vaccines help to stimulate the immune system so that your body can produce antibodies that can fight off COVID-19 virus. Antiretrovirals -they work differently, they interrupt the life cycle of the HIV and therefore their actions are totally different, and there is no interaction between the two,” Dr Anthony explained.

Persons with HIV are advised to follow the recommended protocols as the general population to guard against contracting the disease. These include wearing masks, proper hand sanitisation and social distancing.

“There are lots of hesitancy among the HIV population, they probably have various myths about why they shouldn’t be vaccinated, but all the evidence is pointing that they need to be vaccinated,” the minister said.

Up to 2019, the estimated number of People Living with HIV in Guyana numbered over eight thousand.

Meanwhile, for COVID-19 infections, the health ministry reports some 3,907 active cases, with 59 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. The data also shows a slight decrease of cases in Region Four, with increases in Regions Two, Three and Ten.

There are 107 persons in hospitals across the country, with 72 of those persons currently at the Ocean View Hospital, 24 of which are in the ICU. Six are maternal cases.

Also, so far, 373,398 persons have been vaccinated with the first dose of a covid vaccine, representing 72.8 per cent of the adult population, while 231,729 persons have been fully vaccinated, amounting to 45.2 per cent of the adult population.

For the adolescent population, 26,391 children have taken the first dose Pfizer vaccine, amounting to 36.2 per cent of that population, while 17,379 are fully vaccinated, representing 2.5 per cent of the adolescent population.

World AIDS Day 2021: End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemics.

This World AIDS Day, the Region will be highlighting the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world.

Without bold action against inequalities, the world risks a resurgence of HIV, as well as a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiralling social and economic crisis.

Forty years since the first AIDS cases were reported, HIV still threatens the world. Today, the world is off track from delivering on the shared commitment to end AIDS by 2030 and is even risking a resurgence, not because of a lack of knowledge or tools to beat AIDS, but because of structural inequalities that obstruct proven solutions to HIV prevention and treatment.

Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be ended as a matter of urgency if we are to end AIDS by 2030.

Although there is a perception that a time of crisis is not the right time to prioritize tackling the underlying social injustices, it is clear that without doing so, the crisis cannot be overcome.

Tackling inequalities is a long-standing global promise, the urgency of which has only increased. In 2015, all countries pledged to reduce inequalities within and between countries as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End AIDS and the Political Declaration on AIDS adopted at the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS have ending inequalities at their core.

As well as being central to ending AIDS, tackling inequalities will advance the human rights of key populations and people who are living with HIV, make societies better prepared to beat COVID-19 and other pandemics and support economic recovery and stability. Fulfilling the promise to tackle inequalities will save millions of lives and will benefit society as a whole.

But ending inequalities requires transformative change. Political, economic and social policies need to protect the rights of everyone and pay attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

We know how to beat AIDS, we know what the inequalities obstructing progress are, and we know how to tackle them. The policies to address inequalities can be implemented, but they require leaders to be bold.

Governments must now move from commitment to action. Governments must promote inclusive social and economic growth. They must eliminate discriminatory laws, policies and practices to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities. It is time for governments to keep their promises. They must act now, and we must make them accountable.

This World AIDS Day, let’s remind our governments that global inequalities affect us all, no matter who we are or where we are located. This World AIDS Day, let’s demand action to end inequalities and AIDS and all other pandemics that thrive on inequalities.

COVID-19 Behaviors Dashboard

The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs recently launched the COVID-19 Behaviors Dashboard. The digital tool highlights data from a global survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices around COVID-19, including vaccine acceptance.

A webinar to launch the Dashboard was held earlier this week. Click below for the webinar recording and presentation slides. A link to the Dashboard is also below.

National AIDS Commission (NAC) Belize Equips Civil Society Organisations with PPE

In September, Mr Enrique Romero, Executive Director, National AIDS Commission (NAC) Belize, presented personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically face shields, to members of civil society organizations (CSOs).

The donation was made possible through support from PANCAP’s COVID-19 (C19RM) grant, of which Belize is a beneficiary.

The beneficiaries included Belize Family Life Association – BFLA, “Our Circle”, United Belize Advocacy Movement – Unibam, Belize Trans Colors, Empower Yourself Belize Movement – EYBM, Belize Youth Empowerment For Change – BYEC and Helpage Belize.

Additional PPE for CSOs are forthcoming and will be presented at a later date.

COVID-19 Has Devastated HIV and TB Services According to New Global Fund Report

Washington, DC – New data released by the Global Fund today shows that COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the fight against AIDS and tuberculosis in 2020, and it makes clear the critically important role of emergency support provided by the U.S. as part of the American Rescue Plan.

For the first time in the history of the Global Fund, key programmatic results in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria have gone backwards, the annual results report showed. About one million fewer people with TB were treated in 2020 compared with 2019. For drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB, testing and treatment declined by a staggering 19% and 37%, respectively. Until COVID-19 arrived, TB killed more people globally than any other infectious disease and is now the second deadliest infectious disease in the world.

HIV continues to hit young women and girls the hardest. Every week, 5,000 adolescent girls and young women are infected with HIV in east and southern Africa. But in 2020, 11% fewer people were reached with HIV prevention programs and services. HIV tests declined by 22%. For HIV treatment, children have been left furthest behind, with only 54% getting the lifesaving HIV treatment they need.

Malaria programming fared better through the pandemic, but progress against the disease – which killed over 400,000 people in 2019 — has stalled.

Yet the impact of COVID-19 today would have been even worse without support from the United States and other countries, whose investments allowed the Global Fund to move with speed and scale to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on HIV, TB and malaria in 2020.

In 2021, the United States committed an additional $3.5 billion to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism as part of the American Rescue Plan. The COVID-19 Response Mechanism is helping to support innovations like delivering malaria bed nets door-to-door, dispensing multi-month supplies of TB and HIV drugs and using digital tools to monitor TB treatment.

For example, with the Global Fund’s support, in Nigeria, the National AIDS Council tested for both COVID-19 and HIV simultaneously, helping the country find more HIV-positive people. Most malaria campaigns quickly adapted to COVID-19, avoiding large disruptions, and the number of children protected through Seasonal Chemoprevention Campaigns has increased.

U.S. emergency funding has also made a direct and tangible impact on the COVID-19 response in low- and middle-income countries receiving Global Fund grants. The emergency U.S. funds are being used to shore up health systems, scale-up COVID-19 rapid testing and provide desperately needed therapeutics like oxygen. As of August 2021, $3.3 billion had been approved for 107 countries and 16 multi-country programs through the COVID-19 Response Mechanism and flexibilities within existing grants.

As the Delta variant tore through India earlier this year, the Global Fund was able to fast-track $75 million to the country to purchase oxygen concentrators and Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen plants. When Delta caused a surge of COVID-19 cases in Uganda, the Global Fund was able to support the country’s urgent order for additional PPE and COVID-19 tests. As of July 5, the Global Fund had delivered 2.5 million diagnostic tests to Uganda.

“I want to thank Congress for providing a significant infusion of COVID-19 funding to the Global Fund during a critical and terrifying time. The new data confirms that COVID-19 has had a devastating impact and also makes clear how crucial U.S. support continues to be,” said Chris Collins, president and CEO of Friends of the Global Fight. “Next year’s data will be even more shocking if we do not step up and increase investments in global health. The lives of millions of people are now on the line. With dangerous new COVID-19 variants wreaking havoc, particularly in low-income countries, the United States and its partners must do more to make sure that 20 years of progress against AIDS, TB and malaria won’t come undone.”

Dr Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Friends’ Board Chair and chairman at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm, agreed.

“Let’s not forget that the Global Fund has been remarkably effective, saving 44 million lives since 2002. It has weathered the crisis of operating during a global pandemic, but it needs more resources. The world can’t afford to backslide any further on fighting AIDS, TB and malaria. Investments to end these epidemics will also help to strengthen health systems to meet the dual challenges of addressing COVID-19 and preparing for future pandemics.”

Belize to implement HIV Self-testing

The National AIDS Commission (NAC) Belize announced that the country is preparing to launch HIV Self Testing, an innovative service delivery model, during the new Global Fund grant cycle.

HIV self-testing is a process whereby a person collects saliva or pinprick blood specimen, performs a test, and receives the result privately. Evidence shows that self-testing is safe and accurate and increases testing uptake among people who may not test otherwise. It offers a way to make testing discreet, comfortable, and empowering.

Self-testing will also help ensure that HIV diagnosis does not decline during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a comprehensive strategy.

COVID-19 vaccines were not developed overnight “humanity was lucky” — Guyanese virologist at Pfizer

Principal Research Scientist at the United States drug maker Pfizer, Dr Vidia Roopchand, has sought to dispel concerns that COVID vaccines were developed overnight but said they date back to the fight against two other coronaviruses.

He said research in tackling Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the early 2000s and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 formed the basis for developing vaccines for COVID-19.

“A lot of people don’t realise this, but people have been working on coronaviruses for at least the last 20 years because the first SARS came out in 2001, so people have been working on a spike for SARS and other coronaviruses for a long time… so SARS and MERS allowed us, meaning the virology community,…to make all of these structural substitutions,” he said.

Speaking on a University of Guyana (UG)-organised webinar on the topic “SARS COV-2 (Covid-19) Viral Physiology and Vaccine Development”, he explained that coronaviruses, including many of the common cold viruses, have been infecting humans for a long time. They include the Human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1), which has been causing respiratory problems for many years.

“People have been studying coronaviruses for a while, but when SARS occurred, people started taking notice, and around that time, there was a revolution in structural biology,” he said, adding that the technology advanced in making images of crystals. He said after MERS came on the scene, scientists said coronaviruses were not as innocuous as they used to think, resulting in them being able to examine gene and protein sequences.

He said the evidence shows that the Pfizer jab is neutralising the Delta variant, even as he urged more people to be inoculated to reduce the chance of other variants. Dr Roopchand urged people to visit the United States Food and Drug Administration’s website to examine the data on the vaccine.

The Virologist said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine comprises an RNA sequence, lipids, some salt, sugars, and other constituents.

He said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted Emergency Use Authorisation, based on the efficacy, even as trials continued. The FDA has since granted full authorisation for adults, while emergency authorisation continues for children from 12 years upwards. The US government recently donated 146,000 doses of the Pfizer jab for inoculating mainly adolescents as part of a “back-to-classroom” plan from September 6, 2021.

While there is a perception among some persons that scientists do not believe in God, he stressed that “I do believe in God and I think that something like this makes me believe in God even more because everything works and we were able to make this vaccine.”

The Principal Researcher at Pfizer said the efficacy of the polio vaccine lasts a lifetime because the entire virus had been used for that vaccine, but RNA was now being used for the first time in the manufacture of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr Persaud received his early education at the Methodist Primary on Wakenaam Island, Essequibo River and then the Anna Regina Multilateral School before going to the University of Guyana. He later obtained higher qualifications in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University.

PANCAP welcomes Ms Simone Jackson, PEPFAR Coordinator, Caribbean Regional Program, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy (S/GAC)

From the Desk of the Director, Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP):

Dear Partners,

Please join me in welcoming our new PEPFAR Coordinator, Ms Simone Jackson, who is based at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Most recently, she served as Internal Political Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil (2018-2021). Simone will oversee the United States’ assistance to combat HIV and AIDS in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. I anticipate engaging with Simone to strengthen the Region’s HIV response and plan the way forward as we continue to navigate COVID-19. I wish her the best in her new leadership role to advance PEPFAR’s support and serve the region.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Rosmond Adams

Biography

Ms Simone Jackson, PEPFAR Coordinator, Caribbean Regional Program, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy (S/GAC)

Simone Jackson is the PEPFAR Coordinator for the Caribbean Regional Program based at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.

She joined the U.S. Department of State in 2003 and most recently served as Internal Political Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil (2018-2021). Previous overseas assignments include Management Section Chief in Luanda, Angola (2014-2015), Refugee and Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Islamabad, Pakistan (2011-2013), Deputy Economic Counselor in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2010-2011), Economic Officer in Mexico City, Mexico (2006-2008), and Visa Section Chief in Sanaa, Yemen (2004-2006).

Simone has also served in Washington as the Senior Economic Officer in the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs (2016-2018), Energy Officer for Turkey and the Caucuses in the Bureau of Energy Resources (2015-2016), and Program Officer in the Office of Refugee Admissions (2008-2010).

Simone is originally from Miami, Florida and holds a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and Economics from George Washington University. She is married to a fellow Foreign Service Officer; they have two daughters and a son.

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