Release Type: Press Release

SEATTLE/GENEVA, 5 March 2019—UNAIDS is greatly encouraged by the news that an HIV-positive man has been functionally cured of HIV. The man was treated by specialists at University College London and Imperial College London for advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2016 using stem cell transplants from a donor who carried a rare genetic mutation. Researchers report that HIV has been undetectable in the man since he stopped taking antiretroviral medicine 18 months ago.

“To find a cure for HIV is the ultimate dream,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Although this breakthrough is complicated and much more work is needed, it gives us great hope for the future that we could potentially end AIDS with science, through a vaccine or a cure. However, it also shows how far away we are from that point and of the absolute importance of continuing to focus HIV prevention and treatment efforts.”

Stem cell transplants are highly complex, intensive and costly procedures with substantial side-effects and are not a viable way of treating large numbers of people living with HIV. However, the results do offer a greater insight for researchers working on HIV cure strategies and highlight the continuing importance of investing in scientific research and innovation.

The result, reported at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Seattle, United States of America, is one of only two cases of reported functional cures for HIV. The first was the case of the Berlin patient, Timothy Ray Brown, who received similar treatment for cancer in 2007.

There is currently no cure for HIV. UNAIDS is working to ensure that all people living with and affected by HIV have access to life-saving HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. In 2017, there were 36.9 million people living with HIV and 1.8 million people became newly infected with the virus. In the same year, almost 1 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses and 21.7 million people had access to treatment.

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.

Friday, 1 March 2019 (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, will host the Seventh Meeting of National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers and Key Partners in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 11 – 13 March 2019.  Participants will include over 130 National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers, Chief Medical Officers, Permanent Secretaries, Development and Regional Partners, Implementing Partners such as civil society organizations that work with people living with HIV and key population groups (including youth).

The meeting is being hosted 22 months ahead of the end of 2020 deadline for reaching the UNAIDS 90–90–90 Targets —90% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 90% of diagnosed people on treatment and 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed.

The purpose of the meeting is to update programme managers and all stakeholders involved in the HIV response on national and regional commitments, progress on current global strategies, identify innovative ways to address gaps identified in the UNAIDS 2018 Global AIDS Monitoring (GAM) Report and to strengthen the Caribbean regional HIV response. The Meeting will facilitate information and best practice sharing; peer learning and technical cooperation among countries to strengthen ownership; improve harmonisation and sustainability of the Region’s HIV response.

Critical issues highlighted by the GAM report, which will form the basis of discussion, include the fact that there is an estimated 310,000 people living with HIV in the Caribbean at the end of 2017.  The gap to achieving the First 90 of the 90-90-90 Targets in 2017 was 54,800 people living with HIV who do not know their status.  The gap to achieving the Second 90 in 2017 is 74, 400 people living with HIV who are not on treatment.  The gap to achieving the Third 90 in 2017 was attaining viral suppression of an additional 103,000 people living with HIV.

Participants will be engaged in discussions on strategies for addressing these gaps as well as exploring what sustainability means for individual countries in the context of their existing economic realities and creating a roadmap for integration as a key strategy for sustainability.

Stakeholders will also receive updates on the achievements and synergies of the PANCAP, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC-COIN) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Global Fund grants and the transfer of regional public goods developed under these grants.  Development and regional partners will also provide updates on programmes and activities that are contributing to the achievements of the goals and targets of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV (CRSF).

Ms Aldora Robinson, National AIDS Programme Coordinator, Turks and Caicos Islands and the National AIDS Programme Managers Representative on the PANCAP Governance Bodies, believes that the meeting could be a “game changer” at this critical point in the region’s HIV response.  “In an environment of reduced international funding for HIV, calls for country ownership, and the global vision of an AIDS-Free Generation, NAP Managers and CSOs must work together to establish innovative ways to address the gaps in the response as highlighted in the GAM report,” stated Robinson.

She further highlighted that the critical issues for discussion include increasing access to HIV and STI testing for key populations, including transgender and youth, and scaling-up Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing within the HIV combination prevention approach.  Countries will also commit to implementing innovative strategies for reaching, testing and retaining persons on treatment and for preventing HIV among key populations and reporting on progress.

The meeting is expected to culminate with an agreement by all stakeholders on strategies for addressing gaps in achieving the 90-90-90 Targets, a critical element of PANCAP’s vision for an AIDS-free Caribbean.

                                                                                                                        – ENDS –

Helpful links:

Seventh Meeting of the National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners Event web page

https://pancap.org/pancap-events/7th-meeting-of-the-national-aids-programme-managers-and-key-partners/

Global AIDS Update 2018 – Miles to Go

https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/global-aids-update-2018-miles-to-go/

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.

Editor’s Notes

What are the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets?

• By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
• By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
• By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

Background to the National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners Meeting

The Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) 2014-2018 articulates the vision and collective priorities of Caribbean states through their membership in the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). The core premise is that stemming the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean rests on the commitment, capacity and leadership of national authorities and effective response. The primary goal of regional collaborative efforts is to support country responses by addressing common challenges in the areas of evidence-based policy formulation, and innovative responses  to  addressing legislative gaps, resource mobilisation, coordination and technical assistance., An effective regional response, guided by the CRSF 2014-2018, therefore  requires that the links and interfaces between country programmes  and regional support programmes be defined and agreed to by country partners. This is critical for strengthening country ownership of the PANCAP response and a shared responsibility to strategically align efforts to end HIV as a public health problem in the Caribbean.

The NAP (National AIDS Program) Managers and Key Partners Meeting provides an opportunity for joint decision-making in setting programmatic priorities and identifying partner contributions in order to strategically align efforts in the fight against HIV. The Meeting Agenda is intended to allow for in-depth analysis and discussion on the relevant aspects of the UN Post 2015 Agenda, and the overall advancements of the Caribbean Region in implementing new initiatives for HIV. It is within this context that opportunities and challenges for the Region and individual countries to expand the national responses will be discussed. PANCAP acknowledges the need for greater attention to intercountry linkages and greater collaboration with regional partners. This will serve to maximise synergies and provide a mechanism for making regional public goods available to national programmes to enhance their delivery and impact.

Wednesday 27 February 2019 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, will host a Parliamentarians Sensitization Forum in Kingston Jamaica on Thursday 28 February 2019.

The Forum forms part of a series of engagements with parliamentarians, which commenced in 2013 under the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme.  The objectives of the Forum are to outline the challenges to the Jamaica HIV response including stigma and discrimination that serve as barriers to achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets and ending the AIDS epidemic, define parliamentarians’ legislative, representational and oversight roles toward addressing the challenges to ending the AIDS epidemic and pursue actions with specific timelines aligned with parliamentarians’ legislative, representational and oversight roles.

Participants will be engaged in making specific recommendations for the establishment of a National Parliamentarian Action Group to function as a coordinating mechanism to facilitate communication with and among National Parliamentary Committees, with specific reference to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, with a specific target that by 2030 to end the epidemics of AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat Hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.

The Forum will also seek to identify ways to collaborate with other stakeholders including faith leaders, civil society, youth, and Key Populations to respond to HIV.

Featured speakers include Hon. Delroy Chuck, Minister of Justice, Jamaica, Hon. Pearnel Charles, Sr., Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jamaica, Dr Peter Phillips, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Fredrik Ekfeldt, Deputy Head of Mission, Minister-Counsellor at the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos and Dr Edward Greene, Special Advisor to PANCAP. Representatives of the Ministry of Health, UN agencies and civil society organizations will also be attending. Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, will preside over the meeting.

The objectives of the Forum are aligned with the JFA Programme and PANCAP’s regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

– 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, mobilizes resources and build capacity of partners.

• 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

Under the 10th (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, PANCAP will strengthen coordination on human rights issues in keeping with the Justice For all Roadmap through the HIV and AIDS Thematic Task Force in CARIFORUM.

• CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

CARIFORUM is the recipient of and manages the implementation of Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes financed by the EDF and Caribbean regional programmes financed by individual Member States of the European Union. It also provides technical assistance to agencies/institutions implementing projects under these programmes.

• European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to combine their expertise, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders’.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

The PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Programme was established in September 2013 as a regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The objectives of the JFA Roadmap are:

• Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
• Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
• Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls and adolescents
• Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
• Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

Thursday 21 February 2019 (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, convened the Fourth Meeting of the PANCAP Advisory Group on Resource Mobilization on 19 February 2019.  Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Chair of the PANCAP Executive Board delivered remarks at the opening of the meeting. One of the responsibilities of the Advisory Group on Resource Mobilisation is to provide guidance on resource mobilization strategies and support the identification of new funding sources and opportunities.

The meeting was hosted 22 months ahead of the end of 2020 deadline for reaching the 90-90-90 targets—90% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 90% of diagnosed people on treatment and 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed. An output of the meeting is a Marketing Approach Framework for the PANCAP Resource Mobilisation Strategy 2018-2020 which will be used to accelerate the implementation of the Strategy.

Mr Desmond John, Director, Resource Mobilization and Technical Assistance, Caribbean Community Secretariat, and Chair of the PANCAP Advisory Group on Resource Mobilisation presided over the meeting and was supported by Director of PANCAP, Mr Dereck Springer.

Minister Deyalsingh challenged the Advisory Group to focus on the social factors, which make key populations vulnerable to HIV.  “Sustaining interest to combat HIV and end AIDS, requires reaching the everyday Caribbean national in his or her, real, full world circumstance,” stated the Minister, “Taking care of one’s health and well-being, as idealized by the Sustainable Development Goal 3, is NOT a reality for the person in a domestic violence or sexually abusive relationship who may be at higher risk of getting HIV. It is not an issue that the prisoner, the migrant, the substance abuser, the sex worker or a member of the key population community, really would focus on as they face daily human rights struggles”.

The Minister emphasized that mobilizing donor funding to have a true and positive impact on the lives of vulnerable populations, requires an approach in which HIV is viewed as more than a transmitted disease, but a manifestation of the reality or consequence of everyday decisions.

He explained that in addition to the traditional project and grant-funding proposals in HIV centric organizations, there is need to infuse the HIV topic across the civic engagement programmes within other non-HIV sectors. This inclusion, whether in the area of social or community development, labour, national security or gender affairs, can have a significant lasting impact.

Minister Deyalsingh further highlighted that the HIV response should move beyond a mechanical type approach to merely reducing high-risk sexual behaviour and remaining adherent to treatment. He advocated that the response requires more than the creation of enabling environments, integration of health services and determining how to sustain the gains made in all HIV-related projects and programmes.  He stated, “outside of the medical products, technologies and the imperfect legislative world, we would need to look at social spending in health to find holistic and effective strategies to achieve the UN Goals. For instance, we can consider the impact of chronic diseases and their care models on HIV screening guidelines. We can also examine the impact of mental health strategies on HIV treatment adherence and high-risk behaviours”.

The Minister further stated that the existing HIV data and research can be re-oriented through socio-demographic analysis, to determine the proportion of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) who are in need of government services.  He also highlighted that it is important to determine to what extent they are benefiting from the receipt of these services through other funding sources. He emphasized that funding to conduct this type of research is key to identifying all the direct and indirect costs required to fast track the HIV agenda.

The Minister advocated that funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to reach out and support vulnerable persons is integral to the response. He stated that in the same vein, it should be noted that the work of the NGOs should be geared towards impacting not HIV, but people at risk of HIV.

He further advised that it is vital to measure the work of the NGOs. “It should be simple to measure the value of work NGOs are implementing, to not only have persons referred to HIV services but to other services and support,” stated the Minister, “Additionally, we must measure, through focus groups and exit interviews, the non-medical customer satisfaction with an NGO which may be a lifeline for many persons”.

Minister Deyalsingh highlighted that in order to bring about the change required the HIV response must be able to meet, identify and respect people at their circumstance, mainly through partnership with non-governmental organizations, individuals and advocates in an “All of Society” approach.

He stated, “We must be able to convince them that if they take that first step in their multistep journey to get tested or get treated, they will be supported by a comprehensive course of action, whether through services in sectors of health, social services, education, housing, labour, etc.”

– ENDS –

Helpful links:

What is the PANCAP Advisory Group on Resource Mobilization?

https://pancap.org/who-we-are/governance-bodies/pancap-advisory-group-on-resource-mobilisation/

Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS Resource Mobilization Strategy (2018-2020)

 https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/pan-caribbean-partnership-against-hiv-and-aids-resource-mobilization-strategy-2018-2020/

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organizations, regional institutions and organizations, 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 maximize efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilizes resources and build capacity of partners.

Friday 20 February 2019 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago’s National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC),  with funding  from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, hosted a Parliamentarians Sensitization Forum at the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain on Monday 18 February 2019.

The Forum formed part of a series of engagements with parliamentarians, which commenced in 2013 under the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme. The objectives of the Forum were aligned with the JFA Programme, PANCAP’s regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The Forum outlined the challenges to the Trinidad and Tobago HIV and AIDS response, including barriers toward achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets[1], eliminating stigma and discrimination and contributing to the end of AIDS.

Present were Hon. Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Glenda Jennings-Smith,  Minister of National Security, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Frank Anthony, MP, Member of the Opposition, Guyana and Dr Edward Greene, PANCAP Advisor & Former UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for AIDS in the Caribbean.

Participants were involved in defining the legislative, representational and oversight roles of parliamentarians for addressing the challenges of ending AIDS. They discussed actions with specific timelines and made recommendations for the establishment of a National Parliamentarians Action Group to function as a coordinating mechanism to facilitate communications with and among National Parliamentary Committees. Participants also identified ways to collaborate with other stakeholders in the HIV response including faith leaders, civil society, youth and Key Populations.

[1] By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status,

By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and

By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

Thursday, 14 February 2019 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) in collaboration with the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) in the Office of the Prime Minister, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation will host the National Faith Leaders Consultation in Trinidad and Tobago on 15 February 2019.

The Consultation forms part of a series of engagements with faith leaders in Trinidad and Tobago under the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) programme. It will facilitate the development of an action plan for advancing faith leaders’ implementation of key elements of the JFA. Participants will include 40 faith leaders representing both the Faith-Based Network of Trinidad and Tobago (FBNTT) and the Inter-religious Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (IRO).

The action plan will include but is not limited to the establishment of the main goals for the religious community in Trinidad and Tobago. The action plan is geared towards ending AIDS and providing psychosocial support to those infected and affected by HIV. It will also identify the lessons learned for ending AIDS.  Participants will also be engaged in establishing recommendations for improving the collaboration between the religious community and the NACC and setting priorities and timelines for achieving goals.

Speakers scheduled for the Consultation include Ms. Monica Paul-McLean, Programme Manager, External Relations, Delegation of European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Ian Ramdahin, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (NACC), Ms. Heather Rodney, Manager, HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit, Ministry of Labour, representative National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC); Pastor Winston Mansingh, President, Faith-based Network of Trinidad and Tobago; Pundit Lutchmidath Persad Maharaj, 1st Vice President, Inter-religious Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (IRO) and Mr. Vivian Rookhum, Senior Project Officer ,10th EDF Project.

      – 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 maximize efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

• 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

Under the 10th (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, PANCAP will strengthen coordination on human rights issues in keeping with the Justice For all Roadmap through the HIV and AIDS Thematic Task Force in CARIFORUM.

• CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

CARIFORUM is the recipient of and manages the implementation of Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes financed by the EDF and Caribbean regional programmes financed by individual Member States of the European Union. It also provides technical assistance to agencies/institutions implementing projects under these programmes.

• European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to combine their expertise, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

The PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Programme was established in September 2013 as a regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The objectives of the JFA Roadmap are:

• Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
• Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
• Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls and adolescents
• Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
• Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC)

The National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) is a multi-sectoral co-ordination committee which includes participation of major stakeholder groups such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Key Population Advocates (KPAs), Trade Unions, government, international and regional agencies, academic and private sector organisations. The NACC was re-launched in December 2016 to coordinate the national multisectoral response, set priorities, goals and targets, advise and guide the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on HIV and AIDS Policy.

Faith-Based representation on the NACC comes from both the Inter-religious Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (IRO) and the Faith-Based Network of Trinidad and Tobago.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, 21 January 2019 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The PANCAP Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC), the technical group of the PANCAP Executive Board commissioned an evaluation of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2014 – 2018.  The PACC is responsible for the coordination and overseeing the implementation of operational plans for the CRSF.

The overall goal of the CRSF 2014-2018 was to halt the spread and reduce the impact of HIV in the Caribbean while promoting a sustainable response within Member States.  The indicators developed to determine the overall achievement of the stated goal included the percentage of persons aged 15 – 49 years diagnosed with HIV in the last 12 months; percentage of children born to HIV-infected mothers who are infected; percentage of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) on treatment (ART) and virally suppressed; and Domestic and International AIDS spending by category and funding sources.

METHODS

The evaluation was conducted between April and November 2018 with three objectives: 1. Obtain feedback from the regional partners as to the progress, achievements, and gaps of the regional HIV response; 2. determine the level of implementation of the CRSF, the progress, achievements, gaps and challenges; and 3. provide clear recommendations on the strategic priority areas for the new CRSF and to inform its development.

The evaluation was conducted in two phases; Phase 1: Collection and analysis of survey data from a Partner Self-assessment and a Partnership Assessment; and Phase 2: Collection and analysis of data for key indicators of the CRSF 2014-2018 to help the Partnership determine the progress made, particularly in relation to impact and outcomes. During Phase 2, a virtual consultation was conducted among government and civil society partners from countries with the highest number of respondents to the partnership assessment to corroborate the perceptions obtained from the surveys and to determine whether the trends that emerged from the surveys remained or varied significantly. The draft evaluation report was reviewed by PACC members and amended to improve its analytic depth and clarity.

FINDINGS

The findings for each of the Six Strategic Priority Areas are presented in the full evaluation report.

The evaluation found that while the Caribbean has made progress in responding to the HIV epidemic, the impact of the prevention response has been inadequate, particularly among key populations. Of concern is that the annual number of new HIV infections among adults in the Caribbean declined by only 18% from 2010 to 2017, from 19,000 [14,000–31,000] to 15,000 [11,000–26,000]. Key populations, Men who have sex with men (MSM), Sex Workers (SWs) and their clients, and partners of key populations, transgender persons, and persons who use drugs, accounted for the majority of the new HIV infections (68%) during this period.

Conversely, new infections among children fell from an estimated 2,300 in 2010, to 1100.  However, although significant progress has been made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, available data for the period 2015 – 2017 showed that HIV infected pregnant women receiving ART to reduce HIV transmission declined from 92% in 2014 to 79% in 2015 and 75% in 2016 and 2017 respectively, illustrating a significant decrease that requires investigation.

There has been progress in placing more people living with HIV on treatment, however much more needs to be done to increase the numbers and to retain people on treatment. In fact, significant effort is required for the Caribbean to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets (90% of people living with HIV are aware of their infection, 90% of people diagnosed with HIV are linked to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90% of those on ART adhere and have undetectable levels of HIV in their blood). The gap to achieving the first 90 of the 90–90–90 Targets in 2017 was 54,800 people living with HIV [1].

The gap to achieving the first and second 90s of the 90–90–90 Targets in 2017 was 74,700 people living with HIV. The percentage of people living with HIV who achieved viral suppression increased from 37% in 2016 to 40% in 2017.

However, the gap to achieving all three 90s at the end of 2017 was the need for an additional 103,000 people living with HIV to be on ART and be virally suppressed. Given this situation, the Caribbean is at risk of not achieving the 2020 Targets.

Global financial resources to support the HIV epidemic have been progressively decreasing since 2011. However, domestic financing has improved during the implementation of the CRSF 2014-2018[2]. UNAIDS 2018, noted that “domestic resources increased between 2006 – 2017 by 124%, while international resources declined by 16%”[3]. As at the end of 2017, domestic resources were contributing significantly to the cost of ART and the overall treatment programme.  Despite this trend, national resources to support services to achieve prevention continue to be low[4], with the implication that the gains could be reversed if this gap is not quickly filled.

The evaluation team proposed a number of overall recommendations for the goal as well as specific recommendations to address the gaps and challenges identified under each Strategic Priority Area. Additionally, the team proposed that the following Strategic Priority Areas should be retained in the new CRSF: An Enabling Environment, Prevention of HIV Transmission, Treatment, Care and Support, Integrate HIV into Health and Socioeconomic Development and Sustainability.

The evaluation team further proposed that a new Strategic Priority Area – Strategic Information, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Research, should replace Strategic Priority Area – Shared Responsibility to bring into sharper focus the importance of countries’ capacity to report on HIV data nationally, regionally and internationally, including on the CRSF indicators. Such emphasis would enable better reporting on, and profiling of the epidemic in the Caribbean. The main activities that fell under “Shared Responsibility” will be subsumed into the existing Strategic Priority Areas so as to ensure continuity of these initiatives in the new CRSF.

The Priority Areas Coordinating Committee, which was convened virtually on 10 January 2019 accepted the evaluation report. The PANCAP Executive Board which was convened virtually on 17 January 2019 also accepted the evaluation report and thanked those responsible for preparing the report; recognized that while the Caribbean has made progress much more needs to be done to achieve the targets; called on all countries and the Partnership to renew efforts to build capacity and work together to  achieve the targets.

The Execute Board noted the legal judgments in Caribbean courts affirming human rights arising from litigation and called on countries not to wait on litigation but to make amendments to laws to recognize the rights of key populations and the rights of all to access sexual and reproductive health services. The board also noted that while tens of thousands of cases of HIV infections have been prevented there is a need to significantly reduce new infections, and this requires that countries promote age-appropriate sexual education and skills and extend sexual reproductive health services to all youth and key populations.

The board also called on all countries to introduce innovative prevention approaches and improve the quality of prevention services to ensure greater impact in reducing new HIV infections, and further called on the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee to develop a new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS for the period 2019 to 2023.

– ENDS –

 Helpful links:

 Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS – https://pancap.org/who-we-are/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework/

 Haiti Call to Action – https://pancap.org/pancap-releases/new-call-to-action-provides-guidelines-for-achieving-sustainable-hiv-responses-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organizations, regional institutions and organizations, 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 maximize efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilizes resources and build capacity of partners.

What are the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 Targets?

• By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
• By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
• By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

[1] UNAIDS 2018. Miles to Go: Closing Gaps, Breaking Barriers, Righting Injustices.

[2] http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/unaids-data-2018_en.pdf

[3] ibid.

[4] UNAIDS 2018. Miles to Go: Closing Gaps, Breaking Barriers, Righting Injustices.

Prime Minister of Guyana, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo has said that Guyana respects the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on its recent ruling that the criminalization of cross-dressing in Guyana is “unconstitutional.”

At a Human Rights forum held at the Guyana Pegasus in November, the Prime Minister said that following the ruling, Guyana must now work on adjusting its culture to include all sections of society including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons. Emphasizing that it is a human rights issue, the Prime Minister said that education will need to form a major part of the process intended to change the way persons engage with the LGBT community.

“So I think social organizations, in particular, have a responsibility to start the education process to be more tolerant to accept that we have differences in our society that we are not all the same; that we are all entitled to the same rights,” the prime minister said.

The Ministry of Social Protection and the Ministry of Social Cohesion also have a role to play in the process, he added, emphasizing that the ruling “is one step forward in an appreciation of the fact that society has differences.”

He noted too that the government must also find mechanisms through which it can give “teeth” to the decision.

The Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has also underscored the importance of training in Guyana for the country’s law- enforcement agencies, judiciary and social society, to guard against discrimination aimed at those who will now be exercising their freedom to cross-dress.

In its recent ruling, the CCJ said the law, Section 153(1) (xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, which makes cross-dressing criminal, should be “struck from the laws of Guyana.”

The decision was handed following the conclusion of the case of Quincy McEwan, Seon Clarke, Joseph Fraser and Seyon Persaud versus the Attorney General of Guyana.

The case has its origin in the February 2009 arrest of the four appellants, who identify as transgender persons and were detained, convicted and punished for cross-dressing in public. At the time of the arrest, McEwan was dressed in a pink shirt and a pair of tights; Clarke was wearing slippers and a skirt, and Fraser and Persaud were dressed in skirts and were wearing wigs.

While in custody, Fraser was denied legal counsel, medical attention, a telephone call, and a statement. In addition, all four spent the entire weekend in police custody without any explanation. They all pleaded guilty to the cross-dressing charge and McEwan, Clarke and Persaud were fined G$7,500, while Fraser was fined G$19,500.

With the assistance of SASOD, proceedings were brought in the High Court of Guyana challenging the law on several grounds, including that it is discriminatory and inconsistent with the Constitution of Guyana.
Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Guyana had denied the constitutional challenges, after which the appellants took their case to the CCJ. The CCJ panel, comprising the Honourable President Justice Saunders and Justices Wit, Anderson, Rajnauth-Lee, and Barrow, agreed that the law was from a different time and no longer served any legitimate purpose in Guyana.

Tuesday, 27 November 2018 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), with funding from the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation will host the Jamaica National Faith Leaders Consultation at Cardiff Hotel and Spa, Runaway Bay, Jamaica on 28 and 29 November 2018.   

 The Consultation forms part of a series of engagements with faith leaders in Jamaica under the PANCAP Justice for All programme. It will facilitate the development of an action plan for advancing faith leaders’ implementation of key elements of the Justice for All programme. Participants will include faith leaders representing national faith leaders’ networks across Jamaica.

The main purpose of the consultation is the establishment of the main goals for an inter-religious faith leaders network in Jamaica with emphasis on contributing toward the end of AIDS.  Faith leaders will be engaged in identifying the lessons learned for ending AIDS from faith leaders’ engagements with People living with HIV and with other groups such as parliamentarians, youth leaders, civil society and members of church communities.  Participants will discuss the challenges for developing a viable Faith Leaders Network and proposals for overcoming them.  Faith leaders will also identify specific recommendations to achieve the goals of the inter-religious/faith leaders network as well as priorities and timelines for achieving the goals of the Network.

In an invited comment, coordinator of the consultation, Canon Garth Minott, member of the Religious Groups Steering Committee of the Jamaica Council of Churches, said, “it is expected that participants will make recommendations for strategies that would contribute to promoting positive values, healthy living and affirming respect for all, irrespective of differences.  Valuing every human life is important from a religious perspective and is a useful point of departure for a holistic response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.”  

  – 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.

• 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation

 Under the 10th (EDF) Programme of Support for Wider Caribbean Cooperation, PANCAP will strengthen coordination on human rights issues in keeping with the Justice For all Roadmap through the HIV and AIDS Thematic Task Force in CARIFORUM.

• CARIFORUM

CARIFORUM refers to the Grouping of Caribbean States which are signatories of the Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). The ACP grouping is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

CARIFORUM is the recipient of and manages the implementation of Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes financed by the EDF and Caribbean regional programmes financed by individual Member States of the European Union. It also provides technical assistance to agencies/institutions implementing projects under these programmes.

• European Union

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their know-how, resources, and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy, and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance, and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders’.

Background to the PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Roadmap

The PANCAP Justice for All (JFA) Programme was established in September 2013 as a regional response to the UN High-Level Political Declaration (June 2011) designed to reduce AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. The objectives of the JFA Roadmap are:

• Enhancing family life and focusing on those in need
• Increasing access to treatment and affordable medicines
• Reducing gender inequality including violence against women, girls, and adolescents
• Promoting prevention with special reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights including age-appropriate sexual education
• Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination