Press Release – Page 13

PANCAP Director reacts to launch of EMTCT – Plus

The following is a message from Director of PANCAP, Mr Dereck Springer on the EMTCT – Plus initiative:

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) recently launched the EMTCT – Plus: Framework for Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Chagas. The objective of the EMTCT-Plus initiative is to achieve and sustain the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, Chagas, and perinatal Hepatitis B (HBV) as a public health threat. It embraces the principles and lines of action of the Strategy for Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage, building upon the lessons learned from the PAHO 2010 Strategy and Plan of Action for the EMTCT of HIV and Congenital Syphilis.

In 2016, 18,000 new infections occurred in the Caribbean. The region continues to be heavily impacted by the HIV epidemic with an estimated prevalence of 1.3% and 310,000 persons living with the disease at the end of 2016.

The investments made in HIV Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) in the region is significant. The progress is evident.
In June 2015, Cuba became the first country in the world to achieve elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis. This achievement was lauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a major victory in the fight against HIV and an important step in achieving an AIDS free generation. Since then, the region has accelerated efforts to achieve elimination status. Option B Plus is the defined standard of care and fully implemented. There have been significant investments in capacity building for health care workers across the region in delivering the highest quality of care that is based on scientific evidence. All pregnant HIV infected women are initiated on antiretroviral therapy as early as possible and maintained for life. Laboratory systems have been strengthened to provide quality assured early infant diagnosis to all exposed infants.

Across the region, our programmes are striving to ensure viral suppression throughout pregnancy and delivery, so that no baby is born HIV positive. At the end of 2016, ART coverage among HIV pregnant mothers is 74% and 1700 new infections were averted as a result of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes. Currently, several countries in the region are undergoing the WHO validation process for HIV and Syphilis. Many more are in the final stages of preparing and submitting their documentation.

The EMTCT Plus initiative launched by WHO and aimed at the elimination of four (4) diseases, namely HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Chagas disease, is strategic in leveraging the momentum of HIV PMTCT initiatives. The Partnership envisages the EMTCT Plus initiative as a coordinated approach, building on well-established and successful platforms and systems of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programmes. The successes and lessons learned around sustainability and integrating HIV PMTCT responses within MCH programmes will serve as key tools in guiding EMTCT of Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Chagas disease.

The Partnership welcomes the EMTCT Plus Initiative and commits to working with PAHO and all stakeholders in the achievement of this significant regional public health good.

PANCAP facilitates study tour at JASL

PANCAP facilitated a study tour for seven (7) partners at the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) organisation in Kingston, Jamaica on August 8-11. Led by PANCAP Knowledge Coordinator, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, the study tour titled the ‘South-to-South Learning Exchange’, aimed to expose the partners to JASL’s model of care delivery including the antiretroviral (ART) delivery model. The activity forms part of the initiatives under the PANCAP Knowledge for Health Project (Official project web page here).

Objectives

The participants from Barbados, Guyana and The Bahamas toured JASL’s facilities and were provided with first-hand information on JASL’s operations. Dr Singh-Anthony explained, ‘the study tour focused on providing participants with a full illustration of the model of care delivery. Participants were provided with information on the factors contributing to the successful delivery of comprehensive HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services by JASL including the provision of ART to key populations’.

The study tour also aimed to illustrate for participants the degree and mechanisms of coordination and collaboration between JASL and the Ministry of Health (Jamaica) in supporting the scale up of HIV prevention, care and treatment services to key populations. In addition, the study tour facilitated knowledge sharing and exchange among participants on 90-90-90 and Treat All.

Outcomes and next steps

Dr Singh-Anthony emphasized that one of the key outcomes of the tour would be the development of country specific action plans to enhance in-country collaboration among National AIDS Programme Managers and Civil Society Organisations. ‘One of our final activities is the preparation of work plans by participants based on the knowledge and best practice steps garnered from JASL’, stated Dr Singh-Anthony, ‘our intention is that the study tour achieves actionable steps that participants can incorporate into their own models of delivery to improve health outcomes for people living with HIV’.

Capturing a best practice

The JASL Model of Care and other key operational activities will be documented and shared with the entire Partnership as well as the study tour experience. The documentation was facilitated by Ms Kathi Fox of the Knowledge for Health Project, Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, all participants will be sharing their experiences in the form of blogs which will be highlighted on the study tour web page on PANCAP.org available here.

How to promote your case studies and best practices using the PANCAP Document Library

Step 1. Click on the ‘Resources’ menu and select ‘Document Library’.

Step 2. Click on the ‘Submit A Document’ button.

Step 3. Use any of your social media accounts to log into the Document Library.

Step 4. The website will connect with the social media account you selected.

Step 5. Sign into your social media account to access the Document Library. This activity WILL NOT be posted on your social media profile.

Step 6. Select ‘Create a new account’ which will be associated with your social media ID.

Step 7. Complete all the fields and click ‘continue’ to proceed.

Step 8. The message below will appear requesting permission to use your social media account to access the PANCAP Document Library. Click ‘allow’. Only basic profile information like your name will be visible.

Step 9. You’re here. Welcome to the PANCAP Document Library. Select ‘Add New PANCAP document’ to start.

Step 10. Complete all necessary fields to provide viewers with as much information about your document as possible. Your document will also be reviewed before it is posted. Details are important for the review.

Step 11. Ensure you enter the ‘document type’ e.g. case study, best practice, guidelines, etc.

Step 12. A brief description of your document is required. Please be as concise as possible.

Step 13. PANCAP can promote your document on the home page. Select the ‘highlight’ option to request this.

Step 14. You can preview how your document will appear on the website by clicking the ‘preview’ button. Use this option to make any changes or correct errors before final submission of the document.

Step 15. Click ‘Submit for review’ to send your document to the PANCAP Coordinating Unit for review. This will take one (1) working day.

Step 16. After approval, your document will appear in the library and will be disseminated to the entire Partnership. Viewers will have the option to view the document on the site or download and save.

To upload a document now, click here.

For clarifications, please contact taustin.consultant@caricom.org

CARICOM Secretariat – PANCAP HOSTS HIV EDUTAINMENT EVENT

Tuesday, August 8, 2017 (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, upon the initiative and request from the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General will facilitate an awareness activity on HIV and AIDS titled ‘HIV Edutainment Hangout’. The special initiative will focus on the children of CARICOM employees, ages 10 – 19 and will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.

The event will be hosted by the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General in close collaboration with the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat. The first of its kind, the activity is meant to reinforce the message from PANCAP to increase HIV and AIDS education among youth in the region.

Director of PANCAP, Mr Dereck Springer, explained ‘we believe that education should begin at home, hence we are educating the children of CARICOM Secretariat employees on HIV and AIDS-related topics with the intention to inspire other institutions and networks within the region to conduct similar activities. PANCAP has been advocating for an increase in HIV education among youth. This was done most notably during our ‘Meeting of Youth Leaders: Sexual and Reproductive Health’ on April 21 and 22, 2017 in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Manorma Soeknandan, Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat, shared that the response to the initiative has been overwhelming with over 50 participants registering. The event will include a combination of education and entertainment on HIV-related topics including HIV transmission, stigma and discrimination and prevention with an overarching emphasis on how youth can contribute to the end of AIDS.

Role-play, drama and creative writing will be utilised to engage participants in scenarios, which will seek to build their capacity to recognise social situations, which may put them at risk, as well as the ability to recognise and address stigma and discrimination and identify ways in which HIV transmission can be prevented and discuss what they can do to protect themselves from HIV.

‘Youth have an integral role in ending AIDS’, stated Dr. Soeknandan, ‘we hope that this event serves as a catalyst for heightened advocacy and mobilisation of resources for HIV education among Caribbean youth’.

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

Contact:
Timothy Austin
Communications Specialist
PANCAP Coordinating Unit
CARICOM Secretariat
Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana
Email: taustin.consultant@caricom.org
Tel: (592) 222-0001-75, Ext. 3409 | Visit www.PANCAP.org

Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) Convened Board Meeting

The Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+), the regional umbrella organisation that advocates for, and on behalf of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), convened a board meeting on 3-4 July 2017 in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The meeting agreed on the membership of an Interim Board, which will serve from July 4, 2017, to July 3, 2018.

Mr Winfield Tannis-Abbott was elected the new Chair, Ms Ethel Pengel, Vice Chair, Mr Devon Gabourel, Secretary, Mr Purnell Christian-Thomas, Treasurer, Mr William Moultrie 111, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Dr Felix Reyes, Assistant Treasurer and Ms Eloise Patricia Phillips, Board Member.

The Board also revised the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group, reviewed and revised the Constitution, agreed on the term of the Board, reviewed the Strategic Plan and aligned its strategic objectives and activities to the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF), the UNAIDS Fast Track Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also noted the progress on implementation of some key activities and agreed on the process for the development of a Communication Plan, the frequency of meetings and reporting schedules.

The Meeting was also attended by Mr Jason Shepherd, Senior Programme Officer, Ms Nicola Taylor Advisor on Governance, Mr Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, Dr Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), Dr Shellon Bovell, Project Coordinator, Office of the Principal Recipient for PANCAP Global Fund Grant, CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Roanna Morton-Williams Bynoe, Coordinator – Monitoring and Evaluation, National AIDS Programme, Ministry of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Further, the Board was updated on the financial support being provided to CRN+ by PANCAP, CVC, and the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund-Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).

– ENDS –

What is CRN+?

The Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) is the regional umbrella organisation that advocates for, and on behalf of Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and is the only organisation of its kind in the region. It is comprised of 27 national affiliates representing the Dutch, English, French and Spanish countries in the Caribbean. It is also an affiliate of The Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and a member of the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS – ICW.

CRN+ was established in 1996 by people living with HIV (PLHIV) who were concerned about the issues facing them in the Caribbean and determined to be involved in making decisions about their future. Technical and financial support was provided by GNP+, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), now known as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

Redesigned PANCAP website launched to expand knowledge sharing on HIV in the Caribbean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REDESIGNED PANCAP WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING ON HIV IN THE CARIBBEAN

– Director of PANCAP promises ‘one stop shop’ for knowledge-sharing and capacity building information on HIV in the Caribbean

Friday, July 7, 2017 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) officially launched a redesigned website on Friday, July 7 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.

The new site offers improved functionality, interactive features and aims to intensify the level of knowledge sharing, capacity building and networking among the PANCAP partners including civil society organisations, National AIDS Programme Managers, clinicians, technical experts in HIV, key populations (and youth within key populations), faith leaders, parliamentarians, regional and development partners.

‘The redesigned website will function as a ‘one stop shop’ for users seeking up-to-date information on the regional and global HIV response,’ explained the Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer.

‘PANCAP requires a more dynamic, knowledge-driven website that offers educational tools to equip users with new knowledge on how to deal with the disease within the changing global and regional HIV landscape’ added the Director. He further stated, ‘our intention was to improve the overall functionality so that users can easily navigate the site and receive a wealth of data and information on topics in Dutch, English, French and Spanish’.

The new site features a highly interactive home page that offers users all the key PANCAP digital tools including instructional toolkits, most recent updates, newly posted documents and a social feed, which highlights posts from PANCAP’s social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

A document library, PANCAP Voices Podcast, Video and Image Galleries, infographics, data and fact sheets and original PANCAP webinars are also featured on the new website.

The Document Library has added functionality as PANCAP members and partners will be provided with access to upload their original case studies, best practices, policy and strategy documents and other publications for dissemination to the entire partnership. The PANCAP Director emphasised that this function is meant to improve capacity building and knowledge management.

The new initiative is a product of the PANCAP Knowledge for Health Project, which is a collaboration between PANCAP and the Johns Hopkins University Knowledge for Health Project, Baltimore with funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

– ENDS –

What is PANCAP?

Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis to Attend PANCAP Regional Parliamentarians Forum

PANCAP Regional Parliamentarians Forum Concludes with Call for Non-Partisan Approach to Issues Related to Stigma, Discrimination and HIV Transmission

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Regional Parliamentarians Forum, 30 – 31 May, Kingston, Jamaica, concluded with recommendations from parliamentarians on a non-partisan approach to issues related to stigma, discrimination and HIV transmission.
Approximately 60 regional parliamentarians engaged in intense discussions from May 30 -31 and the following recommendations were proposed:

Parliamentarians agreed that issues involving the role of stigma and discrimination in perpetuating HIV transmission should be non-partisan and every effort must be made to protect vulnerable populations susceptible to HIV transmission including youths and LGBT.
Parliamentarians advocated for more sensitization of the public about the role that stigma and discrimination plays in the transmission of HIV. Public education tools recommended included using the school curriculum to propagate the anti-discrimination message, community education, leveraging the influence of faith-based leaders, collaborating with parent teacher associations and other groups related to education.
A recommendation was made for intensified oversight by parliamentarians to ensure that health care providers and law enforcement are not discriminating against HIV positive persons and key populations.
Parliamentarians advocated for a broad based stakeholder engagement to discuss issues affecting key populations with emphasis on stigma, discrimination and HIV transmission.
Parliamentarians proposed the creation of a mechanism through which parliamentarians can meet to collaborate and share best practices to further the agenda to end AIDS by 2030. In particular, the establishment of a regional coordinating committee for parliamentarians was recommended. This body
would serve to further the discussions and issues raised at the Regional Parliamentarians Forum with the overarching aim of formulating policies and strategies to protect vulnerable groups that can be advocated at the
policymaking level.
Further, parliamentarians recommended a workshop for engagement with regional parliamentarians, NGOs, faith based organizations on the 90-90-90 Targets and strategies to accomplish the end of AIDS by 2030.
Youth also formed a large part of the discussion. It was recommended that countries invest in public awareness campaigns targeted at the youth population on condom use and HIV transmission.

In closing remarks, Deputy Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan, challenged all parliamentarians in attendance to commence the implementation of the CARICOM Model Anti- Discrimination Bill. Ambassador Soeknandan stated that the model was approved in
2012, yet no efforts were made by member countries to adopt the recommendations proposed by the model.

The Deputy Secretary-General tasked parliamentarians with taking immediate steps to adopt the recommendations of the model with the overarching aim of full implementation by July 2018.

Following unanimous agreement, Ambassador Soeknandan requested that parliamentarians provide consistent updates on the progress of implementing the Model Anti-Discrimination Bill and emphasized that the overall benefit would be the protection of vulnerable populations, more key populations accessing health services and testing for HIV, reduction in HIV transmission and deaths from AIDS.

The PANCAP Regional Parliamentarians Forum was a platform for parliamentarians from across the Region to discuss their involvement in ending HIV and AIDS.Government ministers and members of the opposition participated.

The Forum, which is funded by the Global Fund and facilitated by the PANCAP Coordinating Unit and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), formed part of a wider intervention programme created by PANCAP within its Justice For All (JFA) Roadmap.
– ENDS –

PANCAP Employs Knowledge Management to Increase Education on Stigma and Discrimination at Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) SWIT Workshop

GEORGETOWN GUYANA: The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS, PANCAP, participated as a key stakeholder at the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition SWIT (Sex Worker Implementation Tool) Meeting held from October 16 to 20, 2016 in Georgetown, Guyana

The workshop is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP).

The PANCAP-Knowledge for Health (K4Health) project engaged over 20 participants of the CSWC Sex Worker Implementation Tool (SWIT) workshop in a ‘net-mapping’ activity to determine how stigma and discrimination affects their ability to advocate for human rights, access to HIV prevention and care, and HIV/AIDS education.

According to Sarah Fohl, Knowledge Management Advisor for the K4Health project, ‘net-mapping is a knowledge management tool that allows participants to determine the relationships, actors, barriers and opportunities within their communities that significantly affect their lives’. The Knowledge Management Advisor further explained that the net-mapping exercise allowed participants to work together and identify barriers and opportunities to adequate access to condoms and education about safe sex and HIV/AIDS.

Knowledge Management Coordinator, K4Health, Dr. Shanti Singh-Anthony who also implemented the net mapping activity stated, ‘sex workers face a tremendous amount of discrimination because of their line of work. It was important for the participants of the workshop to clearly identify what prevents them from gaining sufficient knowledge on HIV/AIDS as well as prevention tools so that advocates can identify solutions to remove these barriers with the aim of eliminating the spread of AIDS’.

According to Miriam Edwards, Co-chair and Coordinator of the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC), ‘the exercise was vital for sex workers and leaders of sex worker-led groups to fully understand the importance of their role in reducing discrimination in order to consistently access HIV/AIDS prevention tools and education’.

The Co-Chair further explained that the net mapping activity complemented the goal of the workshop to educate participants on the Sex Worker Implementation Tool (SWIT) which offers practical guidance on effective HIV and STI programming for sex workers. It provides evidence on the importance of decriminalizing sex work, the involvement of sex workers in developing policy, and the empowerment and self-determination of sex working communities as a fundamental part of the fight against HIV.

The Co-chair concluded ‘the aim is for sex workers and leaders of the groups represented to propagate the messages and lessons learnt through the PANCAP – K4Health activity among their peers in their respective countries so that more sex workers are playing an active role in responding to stigma and discrimination barriers to HIV/Prevention tools and education’.

Contact
Timothy Austin
Communications Specialist
PANCAP Coordinating Unit | Knowledge for Health (K4Health)
CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen
Tel: (592) 222-0001-75, Extension 3409
Email: taustin.consultant@caricom.org
Fax: (592) 222-0203

Editor’s Notes

The idea for the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition SWIT (Sex Worker Implementation Tool) workshop was generated after Leaders of the CSWC participated in the Global Fund SWIT workshop in October, 2015 in Ecuador as well as additional SWIT training activities earlier in 2015 organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

SWIT was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is based on WHO’s 2012 recommendations on HIV and Sex Work.

Following discussions at the CSWC’s last Regional Meeting, an agreement was formed by a consortium network of sex workers from NSWP (Global Network of Sex Work Projects) that increased awareness of SWIT is crucial to the development of sex workers in the Caribbean. CSWC has received the support of NSWP through the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund (RCNF) to convene this 5-day SWIT training in Guyana’.

Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer, advocates for more attention on the issue of stigma and discrimination within the sex work environment.

‘It was imperative that PANCAP be a key part of this workshop since eliminating discrimination against sex workers is a key component of PANCAP’s Justice for All (JFA)’ initiative, stated the PANCAP Director, ‘the JFA advocates for the reduction of stigma and discrimination and the upholding of human rights with particular regard to the right to access HIV prevention, treatment and care’.

‘Ending AIDS requires an environment that is free of stigma and discrimination,’ stated the PANCAP Director, ‘key populations such as sex workers are more likely to receive education on HIV/AIDS, as well as prevention tools when there is no fear or being stigmatized. I fully endorse the objective of the SWIT workshop. Sex workers must be cognizant of their role in creating a stigma free environment as well as what actions are pivotal to eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the sex work industry’.

The SWIT Workshop, which hosted participants from Guyana, Jamaica, Antigua, Suriname, Trinidad and the Bahamas, aims to provide effective training on the use and implementation of the SWIT with the objective of building the knowledge capacity of sex workers in reducing stigma and discrimination.

Senator The Hon. Robert T.L.V. Browne Challenges Youth to Use Their Powerful Voices to End HIV/AIDS

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, PANCAP, Meeting of Caribbean Youth Leaders – Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS, received a stirring keynote address from Senator the Hon. Robert T.L.V. Browne, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Chair of the Executive of Board of PANCAP.

Senator Browne stated that he is an example of a young person occupying an office at the highest level and challenged the over 60 participants to pursue opportunities at the policymaking level to make an impact on how youth access sexual and reproductive health services.

‘As youth, we have a powerful voice,’ stated Senator Browne, ‘using your platform to start a conversation on why youth are not effectively accessing sexual and reproductive health services is the pathway to getting action from policymakers. As Minister of Health and Chair of the PANCAP board, I stand with you on urging policymakers to participate in the current conversation on youth, sexual health and HIV’.

Senator Browne further noted that ‘young people are not restricted to youth organizations. They can occupy parliamentary positions and serve as chairs on boards. We have a powerful platform as youths; we must use it to full capacity’.

The senator also stated that he is encouraged by the progress being made to end AIDS and referred to the significant advancement in reducing mother-to-child transfer of HIV. ‘We should all be encouraged by this,’ stated the senator, ‘this is clear evidence that we are coming soon to the end of the disease’.

Senator Browne also advocated for a review of the age of consent not being aligned with the age when most young people are allowed to access sexual and reproductive health services. ‘The disparity between the age of consent and access to sexual health services is a shame’ stated Senator Browne, ‘as young people, we must challenge policymakers to review this since it has a direct impact on young people contracting HIV and AIDS’.

The Senator acknowledged the diversity of young people attending the meeting and commended Mr. Dereck Springer, Director, PANCAP and Dr. Edward Greene, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for AIDS in the Caribbean, on their significant work with youth and faith-based organizations, which form part of PANCAP’s Champions for Change initiative.

The focus of the meeting was a discussion on the role of youth in the national and regional response to HIV and AIDS; participants were also involved in formulating and agreeing on a framework for regional youth advocacy.

The participating countries included Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The event facilitated in-depth discussions about sexual health issues affecting young people and the barriers to accessing sexual health services. The meeting also encompassed identifying what knowledge and tools they require to protect themselves from HIV.

The meeting, which was funded by the Global Fund and PAHO, forms part of a wider intervention programme created by PANCAP for Youth Advocacy. The programme also includes youth advocacy training, facilitating youth leaders’ participation in high-level meetings to influence policy decisions affecting youth and the development of a regional youth advocacy network.