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

Key Focus Areas 

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

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

Expert Leadership

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

Building Sustainable Networks

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENDS

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