Media Releases – Page 47

LIVE UP hosts knowledge cafe and workshops to strengthen alliances between KPs and Media to end AIDS

Contributor: Dr Allyson Leacock, Executive Director, LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance

LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance brought together key population (KP) advocates (including People Living with HIV, men who have sex with Men, sex workers, and transgender) and media for a workshop to foster alliances for stigma reduction. In its efforts to honour the principles of the Fourth Estate, LIVE UP saw the workshop as an opportunity to continually challenge the status quo and empower as well as enlighten audiences to love, protect and respect all people. Given its 10-year track record of training media how to report responsibly and accurately on the multi-faceted and complex issue of HIV and all the dimensions of sexual and reproductive health and rights, LIVE UP is well placed to educate media further on S&D so that they become unwitting advocates to reduce S&D in our region.

LIVE UP, with funding through a PANCAP small grant from the Local Capacity Initiative funded by USAID, began the process of Creating Alliances for Amplifying Voices to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination and Increasing Access to Non-stigmatizing Services on May 26, 2017 with a Knowledge Café designed to create preliminary connections between media and key population advocates in Barbados. The Café was an opportunity for KP and Media to be apprised of regional initiatives that are working towards achieving the project goals and hearing from regional key players and influencers, namely: Dr. Edward Greene, UNAIDS Advisor, Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, Mr. Ainsley Reid, GIPA Coordinator and Mrs. Gardenia Destang-Richardson, National AIDS Programme Coordinator. They spoke about: a) what is being done at the policy level for KPs and b) how the media can underpin their reporting with this resource information going forward, to ensure their stories are substantiated with solid information.

The third value-added dimension of this Knowledge Café was that it served as an icebreaker for the 2 groups as the first dimension of the workshops providing the Caribbean context to show them the scope of work that needs to be done by both groups to advance the reduction of S&D agenda. We saw this as Part One of the workshops providing valuable regional context. This was filmed and will be given to participants and PANCAP as a part of the Resource Tool that forms part of the project.

The subsequent workshop sessions will be even more hands-on and provide practical exercises and details of advocacy and the multiple media tools available that can be used by advocates, while media will be shown tangible examples of ways to reduce stigma in their reporting, using the approaches they understand.

On July 5th & 6th, 2017 LIVE UP hosted a workshop for Key Population advocates and Media practitioners at Almond Bay, Hastings, Barbados. The Key population advocates were invited from several local civil society organisations including BGLAD, EQUALS, HOPEN and JABEZ HOUSE. The media practitioners were from broadcast media partners of LIVE UP. The participant list is attached in Annex B. The workshop was designed and facilitated by Dr. Allyson Leacock Executive Director, LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance and Ayana Hypolite, Counsellor. The workshop was very well received by both media and KP advocates alike. Their evaluations are appended to this report (via email attachment) at Annex F.

This workshop and the programme that it supports is unique not just in the fact that the mutual benefits of media and KP collaborating were taken into consideration in the planning and execution but also in the fact that LIVE UP has used its grant to not only build its stigma reduction capacity but also to build the capacity of several other local CSOs who are working on stigma reduction programming as well. Giving them the tools as well as the platform with which to amplify their efforts and voices.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES of the workshop:

The broad goals of this workshop were to build the capacity of CSOs in Advocacy and educate Media about S&D, its effects and the ways in which it can be reduced. Together, this would achieve the aims of:

Increasing understanding of key populations (MSM, Sex Workers, Transgender people and People living with HIV)
Reducing HIV stigma & discrimination
Discussing advocacy around HIV and related issues such as sexuality and diversity.

The specific objectives of this workshop were to:
1. To help participants develop an understanding of HIV and key population stigma, its causes and effects on individuals, families and communities
2. To explore different aspects of stigma towards PLHIV, MSM and Sex workers
3. To build alliances among key population CSO and the media for positive change
4. To develop ideas for messaging and campaigns

Regional Testing Day achieves target of 100,000 people tested

Contributor: Dr Allyson Leacock, Executive Director, LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance

Regional Testing Day (RTD) 2017, the 10th Anniversary of this innovative regional movement, has already exceeded its target of 100,000 tested over 10 years. With 13 thousand 8 hundred and 13 (13,813) people getting tested from results reported from 14 of the 20 participating countries. The aim is to have tested 100,000 people in the Caribbean by the end of this campaign. In 2016, we had tested cumulatively over the years ninety thousand (90,807) people. Therefore with the totals in so far for 2017, we have met and surpassed our target and have tested 1 hundred and 4 thousand 6 hundred and 20 (104,620) people. This is a significant contribution to the fight against HIV in the Caribbean and Scotiabank and Ministries of Health across the region must be commended for their role in the success of this initiative in partnership with PANCAP and LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance.

For the 10^th Anniversary campaign LIVE UP: The Caribbean Media Alliance created a buzz across the region about the status of HIV in the Caribbean today and throwing the spotlight on the hardworking stalwarts who have worked tirelessly over the last decade to raise the awareness about the need to get tested. This strategy was used in addition to the coordination of the promotion the LIVE UP PSA which was provided free of charge through the 112 radio and TV member stations in 24 Caribbean countries. LIVE UP also created a special 10th anniversary logo and social media campaign providing live steams of major events including the Caribbean wide media launch on May 26th in Barbados at the Hilton Hotel.

LIVE UP managed the overall coordination of the promotion campaign and the initiative in all 20 participating countries through the facilitation of interviews and other programming, to educate the public and encourage them to get tested and know their status. This year’s activities were covered widely in the regional media with the presentation by the United Nations Special Envoy on HIV to the Caribbean Dr. Eddie Greene at the Media launch and Awards Breakfast on May 26^th in Bridgetown Barbados generating major buzz throughout the region and beyond.

The LIVE UP Facebook Page continued to be an important instrument in our toolkit given the proven beneficial impact that Social Media has had on the RTD campaign with the Facebook data collected from our page showing the increasing use of social media by younger audiences to get information about Regional Testing Day. The entire 10^th Anniversary Launch generated more page likes.

The LIVE UP media promotion was also enhanced by the refreshed and remixed RU+UR- (Are you positive you are negative?) popular jingle that was brought back by overwhelming demand, with Bajan talent in LIVE UP Champions: Biggie Irie, a Groovy Soca Monarch, Mahalia Cummins from the dynamic Bajan band Two Mile Hill, and Tamara Marshall formerly with Spice Band.

An innovation in the RTD promotion Campaign this year was the establishment of strategic Alliances with two LIVE UP partner stations in Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda; the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) and the Antigua Broadcasting Service (ABS). Under this arrangement special programming was mounted between May 26th and June 30th that included interviews with representatives of the Ministries of Health, Scotiabank and NGO’s working in the fight against HIV. As a LIVE UP partners these stations also broadcast the TV and Radio PSAs across the broadcast day between May 26th and June 30^th as well as promoting RTD 2017 on their social media platforms.

NACC Trinidad Convenes NGO Forum and Monthly Committee Meeting in Tobago

The National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee (NACC), Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, has been mandated by Cabinet to deepen multisectoral partnership in an attempt to achieve increased national commitment, support and ownership of the response to HIV and AIDS. The Government through its National Development Strategy 2016-2030 has also signalled that there should be ‘consultative mechanisms to sustain strategic focus, co-ordination and improved efficiency in the execution of development interventions through key stakeholders. As a result, on September 20th 2017 the NACC held its first NGO Forum and statutory monthly meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister, Central Administrative Services Tobago (CAST).

Representatives from five NGO Organizations attended and vibrantly participated in the Forum. The participating NGOs were informed about the work of the NACC including its membership, the success of activities undertaken in 2017 and future plans such as the re-establishment of the Tobago HIV AIDS Coordinating Committee (THACC).

The NGOs were welcomed to openly discuss key challenges faced in Tobago. NGOs were also encouraged to share some of their proposed activities for the rest of the year along with areas in which they needed capacity building and assistance.

The representatives present expressed that they were looking forward to the re-establishment of the THACC. It is anticipated that it would open channels for NGOs to express their concerns, directly access resources and provide a mechanism for more effective collaboration. The Chair of the NACC Ms. Heather Rodney informed participants that in the interim they may address their concerns to two representatives for Tobago on the NACC – Dr Tiffany Hoyte and Mrs Margaret Wright – as well as the NACC Secretariat. Participants were further encouraged to work together as this will increase the likelihood of overcoming some of the challenges faced by individual organizations. Lastly, the NGOs were reminded to access the HIV AIDS NGO Online System (HANOS).

After the NGO Forum was concluded, the NACC held its monthly statutory meeting at the same venue. The meeting was addressed by Dr. Agatha Carrington, Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development at the Tobago House of Assembly and former NACC member, who indicated that the THA is committed to re-establishing the THACC. Highlighted were the NACC’s upcoming activities, challenges and concerns surrounding the current economic situation and its effect on the national response to HIV and AIDS.

NACC Trinidad hosts Advocacy and Leadership Workshop for PLHIV, NGOs, Caregivers and Support Networks

The National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) Secretariat, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, hosted a two-day workshop from September 8-9th on Treatment Adherence and Nutrition at the Old Fire Building in Port of Spain. The workshop targeted Persons living with HIV and AIDS, newly diagnosed persons with HIV, Persons caring for PLHIVs, Support networks for PLHIVs. Representatives from ten NGOs attended including CBOs, FBOs, Key Populations. Ten NGOs were represented at the workshop.

The objectives of the workshop were:-

i. To sensitize participants as to the importance of medication adherence and nutrition for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
ii. To help participants understand the medical and psychological issues associated with PLHIV is adherence to medication and their nutritional needs.
iii. To provide medical and social perspectives on medication adherence barriers for patients with HIV and to discuss strategies for promoting adherence to antiretroviral medications.
iv. To identify the unique role that support networks and caregivers play in the promotion of medication adherence and nutrition for PLHIVs

This workshop would contribute towards achievement of the 90-90-90 targets through, improved treatment adherence rates and literacy among PLHIVs and their support networks, increased capacity of PLHIV to adopt healthy lifestyles, strengthened support network for the promotion of treatment adherence and healthy lifestyle and improved understanding of the medical and psychosocial issues associated with client’s adherence to medication and their nutritional needs.

The workshop was facilitated by experienced physicians and the Senior Dietician in the Ministry of Health as well as one NGO. The facilitators leading this workshop were:

Mrs Kitesha Francis-Jack – Registered Dietician, Ministry of Health
Dr. David Musa- Medical Research Foundation,
Dr. Aboh – Treatment Physician- Ward 2 Clinic San Fernando General Hospital and
Ms. Beverly King – Founder of ComTalk International

The workshop was highly interactive with many team-based activities and included topics such as:

Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle
What is nutrition?
Why nutrition?
The importance of nutrition
Malnutrition
HIV & Malnutrition
Objectives of nutritional care and support
Nutrition required
Eating a balanced diet
Healthy Meal Plan
Undesirable significant weight loss
Coping with nutrition-related problems

Treatment and Adherence

Brief history of HIV & AIDS
Understanding HIV and AIDS
HIV Transmission
To do list when one finds out they are HIV positive
What is treatment and adherence?
Reasons why clients do not respond to medication?
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART)
What is medication adherence?
Barriers to adherence
How do HIV medications work?
Reasons for Non-Adherence

One participant noted that Mrs Francis Jack was very well informed and produced a comprehensive outline of diet and nutrition considerations for PLHIV. In addition, Dr. Aboh and Dr. Musa provided a great deal of medical insight on the subject of treatment adherence and there was a lot of discussion around the topic of drug-resistance testing and the development of drug-resistant strains of the HIV virus. Participants were so pleased with having the opportunity to speak with such experts that several sought direct counsel from the doctors for themselves and/or other PLHIV to whom they provided support.

Participants also expressed their satisfaction not only with the added information provided by both Dr. Musa and Dr. Aboh but also with the facilitating of Ms. King was able to smoothly and efficiently manage the event procession. Participants were pleased to have been allowed such an interactive discussion space.

PANCAP Consultation Concludes with Priority Issues for Regional Advocacy including access to Health Care by all, Efficiency in Supply Chain Management and Inclusion of all Genders

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, concluded the Consultation to formulate a Regional Advocacy Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan, held in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on October 25 – 26, with strategic priority areas for advocacy. These were developed by a wide cross-section of participants from the region including civil society organisations and National AIDS Programme Managers. The consultation identified core issues for advocacy including increased access to health care by People Living with HIV (PLHIV) without fear of stigma and discrimination, improving efficiency in the supply chain management through adequate forecasting and engaging with policymakers on developing anti-discrimination legislation.

Participants engaged in highly interactive discussions using the thematic areas of systems and policy reform, access to justice and redress, community, social and health services and financing and sustainability.

The consultation also noted the need to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities to access education, prevention and treatment as well as the need for migrants to access health care services regardless of their status.

The consultation noted that access to health care by all, including PLHIV was linked directly to the Region’s ability to achieve the 90-90-90 targets. Recommendations were made to advocate for this issue at all levels including high-level advocacy with policy-makers.

The pivotal role of forecasting in supply chain management was highlighted as participants expressed concern for the need for greater efficiency through improved forecasting and joint regional negotiation for the procurement of ARVs and laboratory supplies

Participants also propagated for gender mainstreaming and addressing the rights and health requirements of transgender and other groups not usually included in dialogue.

The outcomes of the Consultation which will be reflected in the Regional Advocacy Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan will be disseminated to the public via the PANCAP website (www.PANCAP.org).

– ENDS –

Editor’s Notes:

Participants included NAPs from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, selected key population leaders from the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS), Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) and the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV (CRN+), Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO); Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), J-Flag/Equality for All, The University of the West Indies Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP), United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), the DeMarco Foundation, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Programme (CYAP) and key population youth, faith leaders, parliamentarians, and private sector, Caribbean Med Labs Foundation (CMLF), Live Up: The Caribbean Media Alliance, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Johns Hopkins Knowledge for Health Project, Linkages, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-United States Agency for International Development (PEPFAR-USAID), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

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

Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Trinidad and Tobago receives Champions for Change Award from PANCAP

Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was presented with his PANCAP Champions for Change Award by Mr Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, Monday October 23 at the Ministry of Health in Port-of-Spain. Minister Deyalsingh was unable to attend the Champions for Change IV – Relaunch held on September 12 – 13 in Georgetown Guyana, due to prior commitments.

Minister Deyalsingh was recognised for leadership as a member of parliament advocating for the end of AIDS.

Profile

Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh is the Minister of Health and the Member of Parliament for St. Joseph, in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. Before his stint in politics, the Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh started his career as a lecturer in the Institute of Training and Development (INTAD). From 2003-2006 he was a member of the Cabinet -appointed Committee on Labour Market Reform and chaired the sub-committee on Labour Market Information, all of which derived from his passion for business management. Subsequently, Minister Deyalsingh entered the realm of politics, where he served as a Temporary Opposition Senator during the 10th Republican Parliament. He was appointed a Senator on November 2, 2010 and served until October 14, 2013, when he accepted the nomination to contest the St. Joseph constituency. During this tenure in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, he has served on the Standing Orders Committee of the Senate, as well as on the Finance Committee.

Read more about the Champions for Change IV – Relaunch here.

Jesus Embraced Diversity, Says JASL Chairman

He is accustomed to hearing the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) being referred to as a gay lobby group, but Anglican priest and chairman of the board of directors for the human rights organisation, Canon Garth Minott, said, like Jesus, they are simply embracing diversity.

“Any churchman, woman, boy, child, leader, follower who takes the life of Jesus seriously would come at it from a different perspective because certainly the Jesus who represents the core persons in the faith, is a person who dealt with differences of gender, age, sexual orientation etc,” he told editors and reporters during a Gleaner Editors’ forum at the newspaper’s North Street headquarters on Thursday.

He pointed to the woman in the Bible who was caught in adultery and was almost stoned to death until Jesus stepped in. While the law required that she be stoned, Jesus took into consideration other factors.

“So the more I read about Jesus and think about his life, the more I see him embracing diversity, embracing difference and in particular embracing those who are on the margins of society. There is a critical mass of the one percent that are usually left out in society and those of us who follow Jesus knows that he is very much with them and we can’t leave them alone,” he said.

The JASL is a non-governmental organisation that provides HIV education, treatment, care and support to persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, and persons vulnerable to HIV infection. Among its target population are men who have sex with men and the transgender community.

Given the work of the organisation, Minott who is a lecturer at the United Theological College of the West Indies, admitted that the group has often been accused of trying to normalise homosexuality in Jamaica.

“It (JASL) has been called all kinds of name,” he said.

“Anybody who stands up for anything, of course you are going to be called all kinds of names, but the key is that the evidence suggests that we are doing work and the data is there to substantiate what we do,” he asserted.

PANCAP hosts Consultation to formulate Regional Advocacy Strategy

Tuesday, October 17, 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, will host a Consultation to formulate a Regional Advocacy Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan. The consultation, which is a collaboration between PANCAP and the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities-Coalition el Centro Orientación e investigación Integral (CVC-COIN), will be held on 25-26 October 2017 in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The expected outcome of the Consultation is the establishment of a PANCAP Regional Advocacy Strategy and Five-Year Plan that will guide all stakeholders in their efforts to advocate at all levels for revisions to laws and policies that remove barriers to key populations accessing HIV prevention and treatment.

According to Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer, the consultation is pivotal to the Region’s response to HIV since recent advocacy efforts have been limited in their reach, effectiveness and strategic focus. “As the regional HIV response has evolved, PANCAP has been challenged to shift the focus of its technical expertise and financial resources to provide leadership, strategic guidance and coordination for law and policy reform efforts,” stated the Director. “Addressing these new demands alongside resource reductions and competing priorities of a diverse range of government, donor and civil society partners has been a challenge for PANCAP”.

He further explained that there has been limited ability to dedicate the long-term, careful attention necessary to follow up work on key areas such as country adoption of the PANCAP Model Anti-Discrimination Legislation, endorsement of the Justice For All Declaration and national-level implementation of Justice For All plans. The consultation will establish a framework that will attempt to correct this and aid National AIDS Programme Managers (NAPs) and Civil Society Organisations to streamline efforts to advocate for law and policy reform, access to justice and redress, community and health services and financing and sustainability that will assist in creating an enabling environment for vulnerable groups to access HIV prevention and treatment without the fear of stigma and discrimination.

The consultation will also address the absence of key populations’ voices at the highest levels of regional advocacy efforts. The discussion will seek to build on PANCAP’s work with Key Populations and their network to support capacity building, primarily in terms of organizational development and to ensure their access to CARICOM organs including the Chief Medical Officers Caucus, Council for Human and Social Development and where applicable the Heads of Government Conference.

Participants will include NAPs from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, selected key population leaders from the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS), Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) and the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV (CRN+), Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO); Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL), J-Flag/Equality for All, The University of the West Indies Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP), United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), the DeMarco Foundation, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Programme (CYAP) and key population youth, faith leaders, parliamentarians, and private sector, Caribbean Med Labs Foundation (CMLF), Live Up: The Caribbean Media Alliance, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Johns Hopkins Knowledge for Health Project, Linkages, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-United States Agency for International Development (PEPFAR-USAID), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

– ENDS –

PANCAP convenes 27th Meeting of the Executive Board under the Chairmanship of Hon. Robert Luke Browne, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Wednesday, October 11 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, convened the 27th Meeting of the Executive Board today at the Beachcombers Hotel, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The meeting assessed the Partnership’s progress towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis (EMTCT) and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets – 90 percent of people living with HIV know they have the virus, 90 percent of those who know they are infected are receiving sustainable antiretroviral treatment and 90 percent of those people on treatment have sustainable suppression of their virus by 2020.

The meeting will also reflect on PANCAP’s achievements; Sharpest regional reduction in HIV incidence by 48.1%; Decline in AIDS-related deaths by 55%; Antiretroviral coverage increased to 52% from less than 5% of the eligible population in 2001; Virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The Executive Board will discuss the recent findings of the assessment of PANCAP and CARICOM Council of Human and Social Development (COHSOD), Ministers of Health endorsement of the Board’s decision to pursue Option 2: Streamline and Refocus of the three options identified by the assessment. Specifically, the Board will discuss and agree on the approach to streamlining and refocusing.

The meeting will receive the financial report and updates from the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) Centro de Orientacion e Investigacion Integral (COIN) and the OECS Global Fund grants, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors and the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS. Members will also identify the gaps and priorities for greater focus over the next year.

Read more about the PANCAP Executive Board here.

– ENDS –

Please see images of the meeting below:

(L-R) Director of PANCAP, Dereck Springer, Chair of the Executive Board of PANCAP, Hon. Robert Luke Browne, Minister Health, Wellness and the Environment, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Roger McLean of The University of the West Indies and Dr Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat.

What is PANCAP?

UNAIDS and UNFPA launch road map to stop new HIV infections

GENEVA, 10 October 2017—As part of global efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat, UNAIDS, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners have launched a new road map to reduce new HIV infections. The HIV prevention 2020 road map was launched at the first meeting of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition. The coalition is chaired by the Executive Directors of UNAIDS and UNFPA and brings together United Nations Member States, civil society, international organizations and other partners as part of efforts to reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2020.

Despite progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths, which have fallen by nearly 50% since the peak of the epidemic, declines in new HIV infections among adults are lagging. While new HIV infections among children have fallen by 47% since 2010, new HIV infections among adults have declined by only 11%.

“Scaling up treatment alone will not end AIDS,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We need more energy and action put into HIV prevention—stronger leadership, increased investment and community engagement to ensure that everyone, particularly people at higher risk of HIV, can protect themselves against the virus.” “In many places, lack of access to education, lack of agency and lack of autonomy over their own bodies keep adolescent girls from claiming their human rights. And the poorest girls have the least power to decide whether, when or whom to marry and whether, when or how often to become pregnant,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “This lack of power makes each one of these girls extremely vulnerable to HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.”

In 2016, in the United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS, countries committed to reduce new HIV infections by 75%—from 2.2 million in 2010 to 500 000 in 2020. The new road map developed by UNAIDS, UNFPA and partners will put countries on the Fast-Track to achieve this important target.

“The Coalition is here to recognize that we all matter,” said Laurel Sprague, Executive Director, The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). “That means doing the hard work to ensure that people living with HIV are able to stay healthy, alive, and free from soul-crushing prejudice and discrimination—and the hard work to make sure that everyone who is not HIV-positive has the support and resources they need to remain HIV negative.”

The HIV prevention 2020 road map contains a 10-point action plan that lays out immediate, concrete steps countries need to take to accelerate progress. Steps include conducting up-to-date analysis to assess where the opportunities are for maximum impact, developing guidance to identify gaps and actions for rapid scale-up, training to develop expertise in HIV prevention and on developing networks and addressing legal and policy barriers to reach the people most affected by HIV, including young people and key populations.

The road map identifies factors that have hindered progress, such as gaps in political leadership, punitive laws, a lack of services accessible to young people and a lack of HIV prevention services in humanitarian settings. It also highlights the importance of community engagement as advocates, to ensure service delivery and for accountability.

The road map also identifies serious gaps in funding and budget allocation—UNAIDS estimates that around one quarter of HIV budgets should be allocated to HIV prevention programmes; however, in 2016, many countries were spending less than 10% of their HIV budgets on prevention, and many international donors were spending less than a quarter.

“UNAIDS is urging commitment and leadership for measurable results,” said Mr Sidibé. “Leadership to address sensitive political issues and leadership in mobilizing adequate funding of HIV prevention programmes.”

To reduce new HIV infections by 75% will require an intensive focus on HIV prevention, combined with the scale-up of HIV testing and treatment. Taking a location–population-based approach to ensure effective and efficient planning and programming, and a people-centred approach that responds to the needs of people at higher risk of HIV will be critical.

Concerted efforts will be needed to reach adolescent girls and young women and their male partners, to scale up combination HIV prevention programmes for key populations, to increase the availability and uptake of condoms, to expand voluntary medical male circumcision programmes for HIV prevention and to ensure that people at higher risk of HIV have access to preventative medicines.

The road map encourages countries to develop a 100-day plan for immediate actions, including setting national targets, reviewing the progress made against the plan after 100 days, reassessing their national prevention programmes and taking immediate remedial action. It outlines how different partners can contribute and includes actions for civil society, development partners, philanthropic institutions and the business community. By reaching these targets, progress in reducing new HIV infections should accelerate significantly, setting countries firmly on the path towards ending their AIDS epidemics.

Read the road map here.