PARIS – Sir Elton John joined French President Emmanuel Macron to call on the world to raise at least US$14 billion for the Global Fund to save 16 million lives over the next three years. The two addressed supporters of the Solidays music festival after President Macron presented Sir Elton the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV.
“The fight against AIDS has been my passion for many, many years,” said Sir Elton. “We have made such incredible progress, but we cannot become complacent. A fully replenished Global Fund is essential if we are going to consign this disease to history. I commend President Macron for his leadership in this effort.”
Sir Elton was joined by President Macron, who called on the world to step up the fight to save 16 million lives through a successful Replenishment of the Global Fund. Watch the full remarks here.
President Macron presented the award to Sir Elton at a ceremony this afternoon at the Élysée Palace in Paris, in the presence of global health leaders including Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund and Lelio Marmora, Executive Director of Unitaid.
“Sir Elton John has been one of the most steadfast and outspoken supporters of the fight against HIV, and France is a world leader in rallying support, funding and research to end AIDS,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “This award acknowledges Sir Elton’s lifetime contributions in music, as well as his work to support millions of people living with HIV and AIDS around the world.”
Under President Macron’s leadership, France will host the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment pledging conference in Lyon 10 October 2019. The Global Fund seeks to raise at least US$14 billion for the next three years to help save 16 million lives, cut the mortality rate from HIV, TB and malaria in half, and build stronger health systems by 2023.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation, established in 1993, was one of the early groups providing lifesaving treatment and dignified care and support for people living with HIV. Today, the foundation partners with the Global Fund to provide treatment and support to millions of people around the world.
About the Global Fund: The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the diseases, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests nearly US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. By challenging barriers and embracing innovative approaches, we are working together to better serve people affected by the diseases.
PANCAP convened a Consultation with Faith Leaders in Jamaica on 6 June 2019 at the Bahai Centre, Mountain View, Kingston. The meeting was held in partnership with the Religious Group Steering Committee (RGSC) and representatives of religious leaders as a follow up to a consultation held in 2017.
The forum was chaired by Rev. Canon Garth Minott, Chair of the Regional Consultative Steering Committee and PANCAP Champion, who announced a new initiative of the Religious leaders in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica. The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has signed an agreement with the Ministry as a sub-sub-recipient of the Global Fund Grant for intervention in human rights advocacy with special focus on reducing stigma and discrimination within religious organizations generally and among religious leaders in particular. A mapping exercise, which is an integral part of the project will assist in identifying religious agencies offering services for healthy living which will serve to enhance the directory of services offered by the National Family Planning Board.
Rev. Canon Minott reported that the RGSC has formed valuable partnerships with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Ministry of Health and Wellness, the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) and the Jamaica Theological Seminary (JTS). He further stated that there has been a meeting with five parliamentarians which resulted in an agreement to focus on providing sensitisation on issues related to sexual health and the role parliamentarians can play as leaders in society.
In his remarks, Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP shared that significant progress has been made in responding to the HIV epidemic. However, there is still more work to be done to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target by 2020 and to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. He stated that the national consultations build upon the work that is being done at the regional level and noted that it is at the country-level that the real work is done to address stigma and discrimination that impede individuals’ access to prevention, treatment, care and support services. He lauded the work that is being done by the RGSC in supporting the national response through increased partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), development partners and the private sector. He acknowledged the presence of two persons who are living with HIV and noted that their input is critical for shaping the faith community’s response.
Ms Karlene Temple-Anderson, Grants Manager, Ministry of Health and Wellness, commended the Religious sector’s contribution to Jamaica’s efforts to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90. She shared that at the end of 2017, there was an estimated 34,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Jamaica and 26,426 were diagnosed. However, only 12,908 were on treatment and 7,315 were virally suppressed. The national prevalence of HIV is 1.8% while the prevalence in Men who have sex with men (MSM) was 29.6% and transgender people 51%. Female sex workers were 2.0%. As at April 2019, Jamaica now purchases all its anti-retroviral drugs and laboratory reagents and consumables. She noted that partnership with the faith community was helping to fill gaps in the response and that the Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) are involved at every level of the response including on the Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund Grants.
Ms Temple-Anderson challenged faith leaders to focus on gender norms and practices that support vulnerability of women and girls, violence against women and girls, norms of masculinity that support poor health-seeking behaviours among men; abstinence, fidelity and partner reduction; elimination of intimate partner and domestic violence, cross-generational relationships between older men and young girls and the need to remove the perception that the Faith community is a place of exclusion rather than a refuge. She also encouraged faith leaders to develop social marketing and mass media campaigns to address prevention, benefits of treatment and retention in care.
Ms Manoela Manova, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Jamaica stated that there is a public role for FBOs in the response. She posted that FBOs can overcome obstacles through partnerships and that they have a role to play in creating an enabling environment, increasing testing and retention on treatment and care. She further stated that FBOs have the power to influence and therefore have a pivotal role in policy and legislative reform and in the development of the national strategic plan for HIV and AIDS. She advocated for the inclusion of FBOs in developing strategies and policies for vulnerable groups.
Outcomes
Faith leaders agreed to address stigma and discrimination within the faith community, facilitate a dialogue with the community of PLHIV around the benefits of disclosure and to focus efforts on policy, partnership building and training of faith leaders. They also reached consensus on utilizing knowledge synthesis to disseminate educational material as well as feedback on progress received from the faith community.
National AIDS Programme Managers and Civil Society Organisations are tasked with using innovation for HIV messaging, community/public education and employee training and capacity building. Brainstorming ideas and capturing those new concepts is not an easy task using “old school” text on a whiteboard or recorded minutes. For your next idea-generation meeting, try “visual notetaking”.
Visual notetaking or “sketchnoting” is a process of representing ideas non-linguistically (That’s a fancy way of saying, “drawing pictures”). Visual notetaking can include concept mapping but also more artistic ways of visually capturing and representing ideas.
On the simpler side of the visual notetaking continuum, visual notes can be used to create narrated art. On the complex end of the spectrum, some visual notetaking applications support the creation of narrated “sketchnotes” (whiteboard animation videos) which include audio narration synchronised to screencasts of drawings. Visual or graphic facilitation can be used at meetings to summarise presentations and guide discussions. Whether simple or complex, visual notes can be used to more deeply process information as well as communicate it to others with images.
For example, Knowledge Management Coordinator, PANCAP Knowledge for Health Project, Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony introduced Visual Notetaking to the PANCAP Advisory Group on Resource Mobilization in February 2019 to capture the group’s ideas for a marketing approach to PANCAP’s resource mobilisation. Illustrated below are the results:
The technique proved ideal for concisely capturing the meeting’s ideas for target audiences, key messages, marketing collaterals and other critical elements of a marketing plan for PANCAP. Dr Singh-Anthony recommends visual note-taking for any activity where ideas must be captured and communicated succinctly. She posited “The old English adage – a picture is worth a thousand words applies nicely to visual note-taking. Visual note-taking allows you to capture and present complex ideas in ways that are easily understood and remembered. I have found this tool to be extremely useful as a student and professional and highly recommended it!”
To learn more about visual notetaking and some of the other ideas shared in our article, view Rachel Smith’s 18 minute TEDx talk, “Drawing in Class,” which provides an excellent overview about the “what and why” of visual notetaking.
To learn more about how PANCAP utilises Knowledge Management for learning and sharing, click here.
Image: Consultation with Dangriga’s Child-Friendly Advisory Board
With the support of Gilead Sciences Inc., Spouses of Caribbean Leaders Action Network (SCLAN) partnered with the Ministry of Health, Belize and the Anira Foundation in Guyana to implement the project, “Transforming Lives Through Innovation: Implementation of high-impact prevention programmes for adolescents, young women and men.”
The goal of SCLAN’s project in Belize is to expand access to HIV prevention and treatment to 600 females and 400 males, particularly the high-risk population ages 15-24 years in Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District.
Stann Creek district has the second highest rate of infection and the highest HIV-related mortality. With this information, it was important to begin the project with consultations with various stakeholders working in HIV and sexual and reproductive health.
The sessions were productive and positive feedback was received on effective ways to engage youth and collect essential baseline data to inform an effective peer education programme. Baseline data is a powerful tool to create meaningful policies, strategies and projects.
A community mapping was also completed to determine the target population, which will be exposed to a sexual behaviour survey that will measure knowledge and attitude on sexual practices, gender-based violence as well as other sexual and reproductive issues.
The next steps will involve the creation of peer education target groups, along with a peer education curriculum and public awareness campaign. For more information on this initiative, contact Judy Waight, Programme Officer, SCLAN at jwaight@sclan.org
Image: Facilitators and participants of the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) capacity building initiative
The Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) recently trained 15 members from six of its member countries. Sex Workers from Belize, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname participated in a three-day Sex Worker Implementation Tool (SWIT) workshop followed by a two-day Organisational Management Training aimed to build the capacity of sex workers to manage their civil society organisations efficiently.
According to Co-chair and Coordinator, CSWC, Miriam Edwards, three days of training were dedicated to building the capacity of sex workers to monitor and evaluate their progress in following the guidelines specified by the SWIT. The SWIT offers practical guidance on effective HIV and STI programming for sex workers. It provides evidence for the necessity of decriminalisation of 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. SWIT was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is based on WHO’s 2012 recommendations on HIV and Sex Work.
The SWIT training was supported by the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund (RCNF).
Following the SWIT training, participants were involved in two days of capacity building focused primarily on Financial Management and the Principles of Good Governance. Participants were exposed to the basics of financial management through several practical exercises that included preparing budgets for their organisations, creating vouchers for payments, distinguishing between an invoice and a quotation, understanding the importance of accountability as well as the need for correct documentation for payments.
The Principles of Good Governance and Board Development were also critical elements of the training course. Participants had the opportunity to take part in several leadership exercises. This initiative was funded by the Caribbean Coalition for Vulnerable Communities (CVC).
Written by Lisa Tarantino, Principal Associate | International Development Division | Abt Associates
The process of transition from donor support to country ownership of an HIV response is a daunting challenge for development partners, organisations and countries. If managed well, it can be an opportunity for countries to strengthen their HIV response and improve health system performance. Across the globe, governments, private-sector health care providers, civil society, communities, and development partners are making the transition to a more sustainable HIV approach. The global health community knows the well-documented components of a sustainable HIV response. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR) Sustainability Index Dashboard defines them according to the following themes: Governance, Leadership, and Accountability; National Health System and Service Delivery; Strategic Investments, Efficiency, and Sustainable Financing; and Strategic Information.
We have learned by experience that if some of the ingredients of sustainability are missing or inadequate, then the whole response will suffer. Like a cake that falls flat because you forgot to add the eggs, for example, donor transition can fail without a sufficiently robust and engaged civil society.
But a recipe is more than a list of ingredients. The actual amounts, timing and (baking) techniques are vitally important. Technical assistance (TA) could address all the right ingredients and still be ineffective if some are provided too late in the process. As in the example, if you add eggs too late in the process, then the cake could sink later. Similarly, development partners and local stakeholders should address as soon as possible foundational elements that secure the HIV response into full country ownership, such as financing, governance, and institutionalised engagement of non-government actors. Even civil society organisations (CSOs) that provide quality HIV services will flounder without donor funding in the absence of domestic funding, a supportive policy environment, performance monitoring and management capacity. What’s critical is managing the process with a long-term time horizon, political and programmatic engagement and communications, and monitoring and evaluation of the transition’s impact. All of this will help hold the shape of the HIV response together and continue to reduce the incidence of new infections and HIV deaths during the process.
Barbados is in the midst of what looks to be a successful transition from PEPFAR support. The country has been increasing its ownership of the response to HIV over the last 10 years. I have had the (unbelievably) good fortune of working on PEPFAR-funded programs in Barbados and in nine other Caribbean countries during their transition processes. I marvel at the bumpy but doggedly determined process by which Barbados and its development partners have strengthened the country’s HIV response while increasing country ownership with strengthened health financing, multi-sectoral capacity building and engagement, and collaborative stewardship. The TA ingredients came together at roughly the right time and in the right measure to:
• Strengthen CSO capacity • Build private sector engagement and contracting capacity • Emphasise a health financing approach • Coordinate development assistance • Promote regional cross-learning and shared resources • Support internal champions in the Government of Barbados • Draft a sustainability strategy that reflects a health systems approach
Drawing from the lessons of countries in the Caribbean, here are seven ways that development partners and country stakeholders can ensure this happens:
Develop a clearly communicated long-term transition strategy, with political signalling of the transition by international and national parties and a plan for gradual, planned withdrawal.
Stakeholders and development partners need to coordinate, collaborate and be strategic, avoiding duplication. Country stakeholders should be engaged in this process.
Take a systems approach as early as possible in the transition process. The HIV response needs to be integrated into a wider, well-functioning system to be sustainable.
Build capacity for institutionalised multi-sectoral engagement. CSOs and the private sector must have a sustainable role within the broader system.
Develop country strategies to sustain the HIV response beyond donor support that are realistic with successful transition as one objective.
Strengthen governance to ensure inclusivity and access. We need a clear-eyed approach to this crucial issue. Development partner-established mechanisms rarely survive. What will be the new or adapted governance structure?
Implement domestic resource mobilisation strategies. Start with data, build capacity for collecting it, obtain adequate funding, and allocate it effectively and efficiently.
Transitioning from donor support is not as easy as baking a cake. Innumerable factors impact whether a transition process succeeds. Development partners can mitigate risks with well-designed and delivered TA: the right ingredients, in the right amount, at the right time, put together and delivered with care.
In May 2019, Dr J. Peter Figueroa was recognised by the World Health Assembly as a health leader for his substantial contribution to public health in Jamaica, the Caribbean, the Americas and the world, over the past four decades[1].
This achievement reminds us of the integral role Dr Figueroa has played in the Region’s HIV response. In this PANCAP Feature, we reflect on his ground-breaking work and significant contributions to Public Health.
Development of Primary Health Care in Jamaica
In the 1970s, after gaining his medical degree, Dr Figueroa worked in Jamaica’s Public sector. He contributed significantly to the movement that developed Primary Health Care in Jamaica, including the introduction of community health aides, in advance of the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration. He was awarded a PhD in 1996 by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has since written or co-authored more than 150 published papers and co-edited three books on a range of public health topics.
Formation of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA)
As a young doctor, Dr Figueroa, motivated his colleagues in the Government service to form the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), now referred to as the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA). As President of the JDA, he provided the leadership necessary to improve health services and conditions of work. Dr Figueroa also co-founded the Caribbean Public Health Association and the Caribbean College of Family Practitioners. In 1986 he earned a United Nations Peace Medal for his service as Vice-chair of the National Committee for the commemoration of the International Year of Peace.
Dr Figueroa’s roles over the years have included Principal Medical Officer – Epidemiology in the Ministry of Health; Chief Medical Officer; Director of the National HIV-STI Programme; Scientific Secretary and Chair of the Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC); and temporary advisor to WHO on a range of public health topics.
An integral figure in Jamaica’s HIV response
Dr Figueroa has been instrumental in the HIV response in Jamaica, leading the response from its inception in 1986 until 2008 and transforming it into a highly successful multi-sectoral programme. He led the development of a national surveillance system and the investigation of disease outbreaks and established the Epidemiology Research and Training Unit, which conducted numerous research studies including an HIV vaccine trial.
In his early career, he was one of the few clinicians willing to provide medical care to HIV patients. Dr Figueroa continues to provide medical care for People living with HIV at his current medical practice. In a recent interview with the WHO he stated, “Many people were afraid back then, but we had a responsibility. We had to deal with it, so I lead the response in HIV for many years”.
Established condom usage as a norm
Dr Figueroa mobilised significant funding, established condom usage as a norm nationally and developed the public access anti-retroviral treatment programme. He also expanded STI services, leading outreach for HIV testing and prevention, resulting in a reduction of HIV prevalence among sex workers from 12 to under 4 percent. In addition, Dr Figueroa has been a member of the UNAIDS scientific expert panel since 2014.
“Health is more than health. It is having a just society. It is having the social conditions in place where persons, particularly the most vulnerable are not left behind” – Dr Figueroa
Beyond HIV
Dr Figueroa’s contribution to public health in the Caribbean goes well beyond his work in HIV. He has provided technical advice to many Caribbean countries and the CARICOM Council on Human and Social Development on a variety of public health issues since the 1980s. He served on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre and since 1989 has been the Chair of the Caribbean Immunization Managers’ Annual Meeting. He is currently part of the Technical Advisory Group for immunisations conveyed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Honorary Professor
The University of the West Indies’ Appointments Committee conferred the title of “Honorary Professor’ in the area of Epidemiology and HIV/AIDS on Dr Figueroa. He received this honour while serving as Chief, Epidemiology and AIDS at the Ministry of Health in Jamaica. The honour was presented in recognition of his substantial contribution to academic life through teaching and research[2]. He is currently a Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology and HIV and AIDS at the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, where he has developed a doctorate programme in public health.
PANCAP Champion
Dr Figueroa has provided technical expertise to PANCAP since its inception in 2001. He was honoured at the inaugural PANCAP Champions for Change Awards in 2004 for his advocacy and innovation in the Region’s HIV response. At the 15th Ordinary Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) of PANCAP in 2010, he was selected as the recipient of the PANCAP Award for Excellence for his “substantial contribution to the HIV response”. Professor Figueroa was also Chair of the RCM in 2012 and provided leadership for resource mobilisation for the Region. He also provided guidance as Chair of the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC) from its inception until the end of 2013. Dr Figueroa was also a pivotal figure in the development and evaluation of the various versions of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF). He is currently the Vice Chair of the PANCAP RCM for the Global Fund Project QRA-H-CARICOM, No. 1122.
Now
Dr Figueroa currently serves as the chair of the Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group, which advises Caribbean Ministers of Health, and as Chair of the Caribbean Certification Committee for Eradication of Poliovirus. Dr Figueroa has also made significant contributions to public health research, with a body of research on a wide range of public health and infectious disease topics.
Awards and recognition
Dr Figueroa has received numerous awards in his country, with accolades such as the Medical Association of Jamaica President’s Award, the Jamaica Public Health Hero Award, the Caribbean Health Research Council Award for outstanding contribution to Public Health and Research in the Caribbean, and the Order of Jamaica.
PANCAP salutes Dr Figueroa on his recent achievement; his expertise, drive and compassion for humanity will continue to inspire the Partnership and generations of public health advocates for years to come.
In an invited comment the Director of PANCAP, Mr. Dereck Springer, described Dr Figueroa as a giant in the field of public health and medicine who provides bold, decisive and insightful leadership to guide the strategic direction of the Partnership.
[1] Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) YouTube Channel:
Image: Rev. Canon Garth Minott, Chair of the Regional Consultative Steering Committee (The Religious Steering Committee) and PANCAP Champion
The clash of sexual practices with doctrinal values, faith, miracles and the need for scientific proof, psycho-social support for people living with and affected by HIV and stigma reduction as a human rights issue, formed the discussion at the 2019 PANCAP Consultation. The discussion was held on Thursday, 6 June 2019 at the Baha’i Centre, Mountain View Avenue Kingston.
Dereck Springer, Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), delivered remarks at the Jamaica Faith Leaders’ event, which is a follow up to a series of national and regional consultations held in 2018 and 2019 as a part of PANCAP’s Justice for All programme.
PANCAP has been holding discussions with Faith Leaders since its inception in 2001, recognizing the key role of religion in the life of Caribbean people. The PANCAP Champions for Change Programme, which started in 2004, identified religious leaders as critical influencers in reducing stigma and discrimination as an essential part of human rights. This 2019 consultation in Jamaica continues the work of creating the faith leaders network in Jamaica with emphasis on their part in ending HIV.
Other speakers included Karlene Temple-Anderson, Grants Manager, Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and Rev. Canon Garth Minott, Chair of the Regional Consultative Steering Committee (The Religious Steering Committee) and a PANCAP Champion, who presented a report on the Jamaica Faith Leaders Consultations. The report included work by the Muslim, Baha’i and Rastafari Inity communities.
Other Strategic Partnerships included AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION (AHF), UNAIDS, Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI), International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace and The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC).
For more information, contact Patricia Phillips on 876-‐801-‐9150 or patriciahopeyphillips@gmail.com
PANCAP convened the Guyana Faith Leaders Consultation, today 3 June 2019 at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana. The meeting formed part of a series of regional meetings with faith leaders under the PANCAP Justice for All Programme. Bishop Michael E. Perreira, Senior Pastor Eccles Assembly of God and Member, Regional Consultative (Religious) Steering Committee, chaired the meeting with the support of PANCAP Director Dereck Springer and PANCAP Advisor, Dr Edward Greene.
Outcomes:
Faith leaders agreed to incorporate HIV messages into their faith-based work and planned activities
Director of PANCAP Dereck Springer challenged the meeting to utilise youth groups/ clubs to propagate messages about ending stigma and discrimination
He noted that HIV messages could be integrated into the holistic education of youths, especially awareness about other social issues, including teenage pregnancies, illegal drugs, etc.
Faith leaders agreed that stigma and discrimination continue to be significant barriers to vulnerable groups accessing health and that there is an urgent need for more education on the matter.
Bishop Pereira urged faith leaders to take ownership of events and activities to promote HIV awareness and ending stigma and discrimination.
Dr Ronald McGarrell, Inter-Religions Organisation of Guyana (IRO) and Family Federation for World Peace, indicated that the IRO had designated a communications focal point who will be responsible for receiving information on HIV awareness and disseminating the knowledge to all representatives within the IRO.
Faith leaders agreed to work with the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) concerning information and knowledge sharing as well as working in communities to end stigma and discrimination.
Finally, faith leaders reached consensus on working with the IRO on activities developed to sensitise Guyanese on HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
Present were Pastor Orin Bruce, Eccles Assembly of God, Bishop Francis Alleyne, Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Dr Ronald McGarrell, Inter-Religions Organisation of Guyana (IRO) and Family Federation for World Peace, Pandit Chaman Lall Poonai, Arya Samaj in Guyana, Mrs Omadai Prashad, Guyana Oneness University, Bishop Peter Koulen, Guyana United Apostolic Mystical Council, Ras Simeon Selassie, Guyana Rastafari Council, Ras Kahfra, Bishop Chaitram Lall, Assemblies of God, Ms Lorna McPherson, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Guyana, Pastor Joseph Inniss, World Vision New Testament of God, Rev. Noel Holder, Guyana Congregational Union of Churches (GCU), Mr Telford Layne, Seventh Day Adventist, Father Carl Peters, Anglican Diocese of Guyana, Captain Wilkings Buissereth, The Salvation Army, Ms Lisa Mae Agard, PANCAP Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for the Global Fund Project and Dr Rhonda Moore, National AIDS Programme Secretariat (Guyana).
Wednesday, 29 May 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, collaborated with the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Barbados and the Barbados National HIV/AIDS Commission to convene a consultation with parliamentarians in Barbados. Dr Jacqueline Wiltshire, Deputy Permanent Secretary (ag), Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs chaired the meeting.
In delivering the Keynote address Hon Cynthia Forde, Minster of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs emphasized that leadership, as well as personal and political courage, were required to deal with the determinants that drive HIV. She reminded the meeting of the political leadership provided by the administration of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur who made HIV a priority by placing it within the Office of the Prime Minister.
Minister Forde challenged all parliamentarians to be involved in a system of governance that is grounded in the social protection of all groups. She stated that her Ministry and the National HIV/AIDS Commission take their mandate seriously and are working assiduously to transform the social landscape for all citizens and to ensure their right to fully participate in all spheres and contribute to social development and evidence-based policy. The Minister emphasised that no one must be left behind and in this regard, her Ministry has taken its responsibility seriously. “Both government and parliamentarians have never made HIV a political issue but instead have funded a multi-sectoral response including services that are offered free of cost to all,” stated Minister Forde. She also observed that parliamentarians and faith leaders do not fathom the extent of their impact on citizens as they are in a privileged position to work collectively to eliminate the scourge of HIV. She called on all parliamentarians to recommit to an AIDS-free Barbados and Caribbean.
Ambassador Daniela Tramacere, Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean Countries, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM reminded the meeting that stigma and discrimination are still hampering efforts to reduce new HIV infections, increase the number of persons accessing anti-retroviral treatment and ensure that those who have contracted HIV can live full and productive lives. “The EU has invested approximately Euros 530,000 in PANCAP over two years from October 2017 to August 2019. We believe that our investment can also have a multiplier effect. Through sessions such as this, the message can be amplified to communities across the nation and the region,” stated the Ambassador. The EU Representative shared that through increased engagement and coordination, faith-based collaboration with health officials and political leaders can play a pivotal role in reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS. “Indeed, HIV/AIDS is not an individual issue but one that touches every part of society and our economy. This is our collective problem, and we need to come together to develop a collective solution,” stated Ambassador Tramacere.
Mr Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, provided an overview of PANCAP’s engagements with parliamentarians under its Justice for All programme that seeks to affirm human rights and reduce stigma and discrimination. The Director noted that both the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the CARIFORUM 10th European Development Fund are contributing to PANCAP’s work with parliamentarians geared towards creating a more enabling environment for people living with HIV and key population groups. He reminded the meeting of the crucial role that parliamentarians must play in response to HIV and acknowledged that parliamentarians come from families and society and regularly engage with their constituencies thus enabling them to understand the challenges faced by people living with and affected by HIV. He also highlighted the legislative, representational and oversight roles of parliamentarians.
Dr Anton Best, Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Barbados delivered a presentation that included an overview of the epidemiology of HIV in Barbados as well as the implementation of Treat All and Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
Dr Frank Anthony, PANCAP Consultant, provided a historical perspective of HIV, the advances being made in relation to the science, presented on the key actions required by parliamentarians in relation to their legislative, representational and oversight roles, and facilitated a discussion on key policy and legislative issues that require changes and which are within the control of parliamentarians.
During the plenary discussion led by Dr Frank Anthony, parliamentarians agreed to establish a Joint Parliamentary Committee to identify priorities for action.
The consultation was also attended by representatives of faith-based organisations, civil society organisations, and UN agencies representatives.
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 the 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 while 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
