Press Release:– Efforts to continue developing a framework to overcome HIV, TB and STIs as a public health threat by 2022 are underway as the OECS Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) and Global Fund met recently.

The OECS RCM is making preparations to sign another three –year grant proposal with the Global Fund aimed at eliminating HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

The project will operate in six participating OECS Member States: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada.

Project Coordinator for the OECS HIV/TB Grant Dr Cleophas D’Auvergne highlighted the goals of this project.

“The major goals of the grant are to reduce the incidence of HIV in line with the 90-90-90 Targets and also move towards TB elimination using a framework for low incidence countries because most of the OECS countries are low incidence countries. The second goal is to improve services for key populations for HIV, TB and STIs. And, ensuring that these services are accessible and affordable.”

Minister for Health and Wellness Sen. Hon. Mary Isaac says the project is extremely important to Saint Lucia as it addresses a critical need for persons with HIV, TB and STIs.

“This grant is aimed at assisting persons living with HIV as well as TB and other STIs. This is a population that we usually don’t remember exists, but they are quite challenged in that there is a lot of stigma attached to these people. So, funding like that comes at a time when it is extremely critical that these people have the ability to access their medications and manage other health issues that they might have.”

The project is being co-funded by the Global Fund for over US $5.5 million dollars for the period of three years spanning April 2019 to April 2022.