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Global Fund Board Approves New Strategy Placing People and Communities at Center to Lead Fight Against HIV, TB, Malaria, to Build Systems for Health, Equity and Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness

GENEVA – The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria approved the new Global Fund Strategy: Fighting Pandemics and Building a Healthier and More Equitable World. The new Strategy places people and communities front and center of the fight against HIV, TB, malaria and accelerates the shift to more integrated, people-centered models of prevention, treatment and care. Strengthening the leadership and engagement of communities living with and affected by the diseases will reinforce this unique strength of the Global Fund partnership and tackle barriers to effective participation and leadership.

“The Strategy process has been inclusive to reflect the diverse views of the Board constituencies, various consultations with relevant stakeholders and evidence-based information in a bold and coherent plan,” said Dr Donald Kaberuka, Board Chair. He pointed out that the new Strategy will more strongly address health inequities, gender inequalities and human rights barriers such as criminalization of key populations and the removal of legal barriers that so deeply affect the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. “With our focus on the poorest and most marginalized, we will support countries as they progress to address global challenges and emerging impacts of the pandemic towards strengthening their health systems and delivering universal health coverage,” he added.

“This is a bold, new plan that puts people at the center of the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria,” said Lady Roslyn Morauta, Vice-Chair of the Board. “Implementer governments, communities, civil society, development partners and technical partners have come together in shared resolve to redouble efforts to defeat the diseases. This speaks to the power of the Global Fund partnership — what we can do when we work together, in solidarity and common purpose. The new Strategy approved today sets us up for a strong Replenishment next year, successful implementation in the years ahead, and the opportunity to save more lives.”

Recognizing the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically set back our fight against HIV, TB and malaria, while increasing inequities, human rights and gender-related barriers in access to essential health care, the Board urged action across the partnership to get back on track towards the 2030 targets, operationalize the next Strategy, and work to support the health of people and communities.

The Board also noted the new Strategy responds to the dramatic changes in the global health context by explicitly recognizing the role the Global Fund partnership can and should play in pandemic preparedness and response, given the impact of pandemics on vulnerable communities and our mission, and the unique capabilities of the Global Fund in this arena.

“Pandemic preparedness is fundamentally a subset of resilient systems for health,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “And through our swift and rigorous COVID-19 Response Mechanism, we have already demonstrated our capacity to be a highly effective contributor to pandemic response.”

In a broad update to the Board, Sands stressed the devastating knock-on impact of COVID-19 on HIV, TB and malaria, with the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic weighing heavily on the poor and the marginalized. “These scars will take many years to heal,” said Sands. “As a global community, we could and should be acting much more decisively and swiftly to save lives and bring this pandemic to an end. We have the tools — personal protective equipment, tests, treatments and vaccines — but we must move more rapidly to make them accessible and to deploy them effectively. Commenting on the new Strategy, he said: “The new Strategy represents a significant step forward from the current Strategy and will enable us to lift the performance and impact of the Global Fund partnership as we adapt to the dramatic changes resulting from COVID-19, and fight to get back on track toward the 2030 goal of ending HIV, TB and malaria.”

The Board meeting was held during COP26, where a number of discussions focused on the impact of climate change on health. The Board noted the new Strategy acknowledges the importance of addressing the threat and impact of climate change on the three diseases and the vulnerability of at-risk populations. The Global Fund will continue to support countries to mitigate and adapt to the threats posed by climate change within the context of HIV, TB and malaria and broader health and community programs, including by continuing to be responsive to emergency situations caused by climate-related disasters and supporting countries to build more climate-responsive and resilient disease programs and systems for health.

In addition, the Board approved the planned operating expenses (OPEX) budget of US$322 million for 2022 bringing the total OPEX investment to US$930 million for the 2020-2022 cycle to sustain achievements and transition to the new Strategy cycle, and a new global disease split for the 2023-2025 allocation methodology. At amounts for country allocations up to and including US$12 billion, the split of 50% for HIV, 18% for TB and 32% for malaria will be applied. A new split of 45% for HIV, 25% for TB and 30% for malaria will be applied to additional amounts above US$12 billion.

Dr Kaberuka welcomed the increase in TB funding in regard to today’s decision on the global disease split: “The new balance will enable a greater share of funding to go to TB. This will lead to scale-up of TB programs for the most affected while protecting HIV and malaria gains.”

The Board also approved the new model for the Global Fund Independent Evaluation Function which establishes an Independent Evaluation Panel (IEP) and creates a Chief Evaluation and Learning Officer (CELO) function.

Recognizing the significant impact of COVID-19 on the Global Fund’s operating environment and risk landscape, the Board recalled its ultimate responsibility to the Global Fund’s stakeholders for overseeing the implementation of effective risk management. While supporting the increased risk appetite, Board members stressed the importance of actively mitigating risk, especially at a country level, and instructed the Secretariat to provide greater granular reporting on emerging risk trends and the effectiveness and results of the assurance measures, including the assurances put in place.

Ahead of the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment next year, and less than a decade to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Board called the entire partnership to mobilize to increase financial resources to fight the three diseases. The grants based upon the new Strategy will start in January 2024 with funds from the upcoming Seventh Replenishment.

Mind the Gaps!

At the end of 2020, significant gaps remained in the HIV testing and treatment cascade for the Caribbean Region to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets. With the new 95-95-95 Targets, these gaps can become wider if the rate of filling them is not quickly realized.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has damaged the Region’s economies, placing health systems under additional strain and driving many people into financial peril, significant challenges lie ahead of us on the road to filling these gaps and ending AIDS in the Region.

The pandemic has not only disrupted services in terms of access but has also reduced national funds available for testing, treatment, and care. Moreover, the widening inequality gap in the Region, brought on by the pandemic, disproportionately prevents vulnerable groups from accessing HIV and other essential services.

To protect the gains made over the last decade and for us to fill these gaps, quick and creative responses must be implemented immediately. These responses must be based on evidence and must be effective in ensuring that at-risk groups are protected. New HIV infections must be reduced, and those who are diagnosed must be linked and retained in care and become virally suppressed.

Countries must implement social protection strategies and policies that benefit vulnerable groups, especially People Living with HIV and key populations. Strategies to improve testing such as HIV self-testing must be scaled up, and other interventions to improve treatment and care and retention must also be quickly implemented and scaled up.

Youth Appeal for Removal of Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

During the recently held Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week (October 17-23), youth from across the Region appealed for the removal of systematic barriers that hinder progress in accessing sexual and reproductive health care and education.

The barriers identified included unequal societal gender norms and expectations, exclusion and socio-economic disparity.  During the “Voices of Caribbean Youth” discussion, Ms Cindy Andrews, Deputy CARICOM Youth Ambassador, stated that the barriers to sexual reproductive health and rights significantly affect young people’s quality of life and limit their access to opportunities and resources.  These resources include education, access to safe sex health care and information on safe sex practices.

Ms Andrews appealed to regional policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize increasing the development and enforcement of policies to provide a holistic approach to reducing adolescent pregnancies.

The video below highlights critical messages from Ms Andrews and other youth who participated in Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Week.

In addition, youth were invited to submit dramatic poems to highlight the urgent need to prioritize policies for improved access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.  Click below to view.

Sophia (Poem) By Brandon Singh

Get the Gist (Poem) By Dellon Mathison

Talk (Poem) by Ashley Anthony

Multi-Stakeholder approach needed for engaging Key Populations in the end AIDS Agenda

TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2021: The Latin America and Caribbean Regional Platform (Plataforma Regional) facilitated an experience exchange between LAC Multi-country HIV grants.  The exchange allowed implementers from Alianza Liderazgo en Positivo (HIV Positive Leadership) or ALEP Hivos and the CARICOM-PANCAP-CVC-COIN multi-country grants to share success stories and experiences to enhance implementation effectiveness and foster improvements.

The experiences shared focused on grant implementation during the last two (2) years.

Mr Ivan Cruickshank, Executive Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), presented on behalf of the PANCAP-CVC-COIN multi-country grant.  The primary objective of the grant was to provide sustainable prevention, treatment and care services for key populations in the Caribbean.  The sub- recipients included the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CVC, El Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Med Labs Foundation (CMLF), Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+) and the Cuban National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX).

The ten (10) beneficiary countries included Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The grant aimed to achieve social contracting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), government commitment to resources for HIV, updated integrated guidelines for HIV programming, among others.

The challenges highlighted by Mr Cruickshank included coordination and implementation in a virtual environment, slow responses from countries due to the focus on COVID-19, and prioritisation of other public health issues over HIV.  He explained that COVID-19 country restrictions also hindered the movement of goods and services.  Mr Cruickshank indicated that CVC staff were diverted to other activities due to the pandemic, which slowed the implementation of grant deliverables. In addition, CSOs scaled back operations due to COVID-19 and grant implementation staff being quarantined caused further delays.

Mr Cruickshank also underscored that several beneficiary countries had political barriers to grant implementation.

Mr Hache Barreda from ALEP Hivos explained that the grant aimed to increase domestic funding for interventions aimed at People Living with HIV (PLHIV) – including key subpopulations with HIV–and the mobilisation of resources for organisations of PLHIV; the promotion of the institutionalisation of political, technical and financial strategies to reduce inequalities in access to comprehensive health services for PLHIV in the Latin American region, and the promotion of strategic information on PLHIV–including key subpopulations with HIV–for decision-making processes.

Priority countries included Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.

Mr Barreda indicated that the challenges experienced included political barriers preventing CSO organisations from implementing interventions and COVID-19 country restrictions, including lockdowns and limited movement.  He also highlighted that there are challenges creating alliances with CSO organisations due to COVID-19.

Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, praised the LAC Regional Platform for facilitating the interaction between the Caribbean and Latin America grant implementers.  He underscored the importance of sharing experiences related to challenges experienced by CSOs and navigating political barriers for improved grant implementation.

Dr Adams highlighted that the common factor that emerged from the experiences is a need for a multi-stakeholder approach to grant implementation that involves CSOs, governments, youth, faith and community leaders and opinion leaders.

Participants posed questions regarding the challenge of a lack of “digital literacy” among CSOs and limited access to facilities and knowledge on using virtual platforms effectively.

Mr Cruickshank agreed that limited digital literacy among CSOs was a challenge with grant implementation.  He explained that training programmes within the grant were designed with that in mind, including virtual support and mentorship.  He also explained that incentives were provided, including providing mobile phone data to CSOs for their participation.

Mr Cruickshank proposed approaching grant implementation from a broader quality of life perspective.  He explained that the approach involves considering the economic challenges experienced by key populations, especially in light of the jobs lost due to COVID-19.  “Alleviating lack of income, limited access to data and technology and other challenges related to the quality of life is integral to the successful engagement of key populations”, stated Mr Cruickshank.

He explained that the lack of human rights for key populations hinders the implementation of grant objectives.  He proposed utilising a broader human rights approach to ensure that key populations are included in the conversation at all human rights forums.

The experience exchange concluded with participants calling for a multi-stakeholder approach for grant implementation, including the full involvement of governments, key populations, youth and community leaders.

– ENDS –

Changing social norms around gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights

The Caribbean Family Planning Association (CFPA), in collaboration with the St Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA) and the St. Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA), is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with the Movement Accelerator project of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Dubbed ‘Winning Narratives’, this initiative aims to change social norms around gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The CFPA has launched a strategic research and communication process with men and boys in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to better understand the perceptions of gender and gender-based violence (GBV) among men and boys to develop more effective GBV prevention messages and strategies.

A fundamental shift in approach is needed to address GBV. Current ways of thinking and working on this issue have had less impact than desired, without the much-needed transformation of fundamental values and actions of persons and communities, despite decades of work and millions of dollars expended. Unfortunately, violence against persons based on their gender remains exceedingly high in the Caribbean, with newly released data from 2020 confirming that nearly half of Caribbean women face at least one form of violence: physical, sexual, economic, or emotional. (UN Women Caribbean). Caribbean societies are also reported to have a high tolerance for GBV, which is rooted in the prevalence of patriarchy and inequalities legitimized by cultures and religions.

According to the CFPA President, Dr Rosmond Adams: “We must include men as an important part of the solution in ending GBV. CFPA calls on communities across the Caribbean to address the high tolerance of harmful masculinities. Ending GBV is the responsibility of the whole community. It is important to engage men and boys as active participants and agents of change to rid our societies of this horrible scourge. It is also critical to address systemic forms of violence, recognizing that violence is prevalent in societies that condone and encourage it in various forms.”

The Winning Narratives (advocacy) initiative aims to improve critical understanding of and responses to GBV by focusing on men and boys, who often enter into the narrative of GBV primarily as perpetrators. We believe that men and boys have a vital positive role in ending GBV and transforming oppressive notions of gender that continue to plague our societies.

To heal from generations of trauma and build healthy communities, we need new narratives built on empathy for each other and understanding of our collective struggles. The research will provide men and boys with an opportunity to critically examine their understanding of gender construction and relationships, along with their knowledge of and experiences with GBV, to contribute to shaping new national conversations where men and boys can be viewed as positive contributors to societal wellbeing.

For more information, contact:

  • Rev Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, Chief Executive Officer- Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA), ceo.cfpa@gmail.com; + (268) 776-1518 (WhatsApp)
  • Mrs Geralda Bray, Executive Director, St Lucia Planned Parenthood Association (SLPPA);  slppaed@candw.lc; 1 (758) 719-8007
  • Mr Ademola Williams- Youth Coordinator, St Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA); youtham2015@gmail.com; 1 (784) 495-1360

People Living with HIV urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, Guyana, urges Persons Living with HIV to protect themselves against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.

During the COVID-19 update on Monday, Minister Anthony noted that this is important because the immune system of a Person Living with HIV is more susceptible to the virus, especially if that person is not on medication.

“It is recommended that persons with HIV take the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s going to protect them. The benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the risk of being vaccinated. In some cases, persons whose immune systems are compromised, some of those patients it’s also recommended that they get a third dose of the vaccine or a booster shot,” Dr Anthony said.

He said persons could use any of the vaccines available in Guyana, which are being used for the adult population. These include the Johnson and Johnson, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, or Astra Zeneca.

The minister noted that persons currently taking ARVs (antiretrovirals) or PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) should not worry about adverse effects of the vaccine, as these work differently in the body.

“The mechanism of action are totally different; vaccines help to stimulate the immune system so that your body can produce antibodies that can fight off COVID-19 virus. Antiretrovirals -they work differently, they interrupt the life cycle of the HIV and therefore their actions are totally different, and there is no interaction between the two,” Dr Anthony explained.

Persons with HIV are advised to follow the recommended protocols as the general population to guard against contracting the disease. These include wearing masks, proper hand sanitisation and social distancing.

“There are lots of hesitancy among the HIV population, they probably have various myths about why they shouldn’t be vaccinated, but all the evidence is pointing that they need to be vaccinated,” the minister said.

Up to 2019, the estimated number of People Living with HIV in Guyana numbered over eight thousand.

Meanwhile, for COVID-19 infections, the health ministry reports some 3,907 active cases, with 59 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. The data also shows a slight decrease of cases in Region Four, with increases in Regions Two, Three and Ten.

There are 107 persons in hospitals across the country, with 72 of those persons currently at the Ocean View Hospital, 24 of which are in the ICU. Six are maternal cases.

Also, so far, 373,398 persons have been vaccinated with the first dose of a covid vaccine, representing 72.8 per cent of the adult population, while 231,729 persons have been fully vaccinated, amounting to 45.2 per cent of the adult population.

For the adolescent population, 26,391 children have taken the first dose Pfizer vaccine, amounting to 36.2 per cent of that population, while 17,379 are fully vaccinated, representing 2.5 per cent of the adolescent population.

World AIDS Day 2021: End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemics.

This World AIDS Day, the Region will be highlighting the urgent need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world.

Without bold action against inequalities, the world risks a resurgence of HIV, as well as a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and a spiralling social and economic crisis.

Forty years since the first AIDS cases were reported, HIV still threatens the world. Today, the world is off track from delivering on the shared commitment to end AIDS by 2030 and is even risking a resurgence, not because of a lack of knowledge or tools to beat AIDS, but because of structural inequalities that obstruct proven solutions to HIV prevention and treatment.

Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be ended as a matter of urgency if we are to end AIDS by 2030.

Although there is a perception that a time of crisis is not the right time to prioritize tackling the underlying social injustices, it is clear that without doing so, the crisis cannot be overcome.

Tackling inequalities is a long-standing global promise, the urgency of which has only increased. In 2015, all countries pledged to reduce inequalities within and between countries as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End AIDS and the Political Declaration on AIDS adopted at the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS have ending inequalities at their core.

As well as being central to ending AIDS, tackling inequalities will advance the human rights of key populations and people who are living with HIV, make societies better prepared to beat COVID-19 and other pandemics and support economic recovery and stability. Fulfilling the promise to tackle inequalities will save millions of lives and will benefit society as a whole.

But ending inequalities requires transformative change. Political, economic and social policies need to protect the rights of everyone and pay attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

We know how to beat AIDS, we know what the inequalities obstructing progress are, and we know how to tackle them. The policies to address inequalities can be implemented, but they require leaders to be bold.

Governments must now move from commitment to action. Governments must promote inclusive social and economic growth. They must eliminate discriminatory laws, policies and practices to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities. It is time for governments to keep their promises. They must act now, and we must make them accountable.

This World AIDS Day, let’s remind our governments that global inequalities affect us all, no matter who we are or where we are located. This World AIDS Day, let’s demand action to end inequalities and AIDS and all other pandemics that thrive on inequalities.

Region’s Public Health boosted by PANCAP Capacity-Building Initiative

Thursday, 7 October 2021 (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, congratulates the eighteen (18) clinical and public health practitioners who completed the three-month course on the Clinical Management of HIV with the Global Health E-Learning Program (eDGH), University of Washington.

The PANCAP-USAID Project supported the capacity building initiative via USAID Jamaica.

A certificate award ceremony was held on Friday, 1 October, at the Roraima Duke Lodge in Georgetown.

The CARICOM Secretariat, PANCAP and USAID were praised by Hon. Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, Guyana, during his feature address.  He underscored the importance of using the PANCAP initiative as an example of continuing programme implementation to end AIDS despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Dr Anthony expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government and USAID for providing support for the initiative and highlighted the value of the course in improving the skills of the Public Health Practitioners and the overall enhancement the achievement will deliver to the Region’s public health.

The Minister of Health further praised the content of the course and stated that the inclusion of modules on Hepatitis B and C aligned with the Ministry of Health’s upcoming capacity building on the treatment of Hepatitis C.

Importantly, Dr Anthony highlighted that vaccination numbers for eligible People Living with HIV (PLHIV) were low.  He attributed this to misinformation within the PLHIV community regarding the safety of the vaccines.  He challenged the 18 certificate recipients to encourage PLHIV to get vaccinated by presenting facts on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, delivered congratulations on behalf of Dr Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He echoed the sentiments of Dr Anthony and praised the initiative for prioritising knowledge sharing and learning among Public Health Practitioners despite the challenges of COVID-19.

“HIV and COVID-19 have taught us many lessons; pivotal to combating both is providing consistent opportunities for learning and capacity building for our front-line workers, doctors, nurses, and other public health workers”, stated Dr Slater,  “PANCAP, with the support of the U.S. Government, USAID and through collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has taken a positive step towards this”.

“I was pleased that the course content contained modules critical for new thinking and innovative approaches for managing and treating HIV in the Region.  These included topics focused on opportunistic infections, “Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections in HIV-infected Patients”, “HIV Vertical Transmission and Pregnancy”, “Post-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV and Preventive Care”, and “Pediatric HIV”, stated Dr Slater, “These areas are critical to creating a practical roadmap for ending AIDS in our Region”.

Dr Slater concluded by commending the PANCAP Knowledge Management hub for identifying and leveraging the Global Health E-Learning Program at the University of Washington.  He also encouraged PANCAP to share the success story with the Region as many Public Health institutions continue to search for strategies and approaches for virtual learning.  “Let this be a shining beacon of the progress the Region can achieve when we strategically collaborate and take full advantage of the fantastic opportunities of the virtual world”, stated Dr Slater.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, United States Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, stated that the USAID Jamaica Office was proud to sponsor the initiative and praised the collaboration between USAID, CARICOM, and the Ministry of Health.  She highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing and capacity building to the development of Guyana’s health sector. She emphasised that the U.S. Government was pleased to be part of the process.

The Ambassador stated that the commitment by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to combat HIV is evidenced by the more than 185 Million United States Dollars provided in funding to Guyana since 2004.  She also highlighted that the partnership has resulted in significant strides in HIV prevention, treatment and care in Guyana.  The Ambassador was pleased to share that the PEPFAR programme received a two-year extension through the hard work of USAID and the Ministry of Health to help Guyana further its accomplishments in ending AIDS.

Ambassador Lynch concluded by congratulating the certificate recipients for having the vision of ending AIDS and stated that the U. S. Government remains committed to working with the Ministry of Health, CARICOM and the private sector to help this become a reality in Guyana.

Dr Rosmond Adams, Director, PANCAP, reiterated PANCAP’s commitment to building the capacity of Public Health Practitioners working in HIV prevention, treatment and care.  He stated that the initiative would be the first of many partnering with international universities to enhance the capacities of clinical and public health workers.

Additional highlights included testimonials from three (3) doctors who completed the course, including Dr Tariq Jagnarine, Programme Manager, National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Ministry of Health, Dr Mallika Mootoo, Paediatrician, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital and Dr Abiola Jacobs, Director, National Care and Treatment Center.  They reflected on the value of the course to their work implementation.

Certificate recipients included medical practitioners, programme managers, public health practitioners, medex and nurses from the Ministry of Health, Guyana,  Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Davis Memorial Hospital and CARICOM-PANCAP.

The capacity building initiative formed part of PANCAP’s overarching strategy to protect and maintain the gains made in the HIV response as the Region continues to navigate COVID-19.

– ENDS –

Contact:

Timothy Austin

Senior Project Officer, Communications

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

Helpful links:

Image Gallery:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZXpG7ypmbZbALUd59

Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, End Inequalities, End AIDS

https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/global-aids-strategy-2021-2026-end-inequalities-end-aids/

Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2019-2025

https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework-2019-2025/

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 Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 targets and commitments?

If targets and commitments in the strategy are achieved:

  • The number of people who newly acquire HIV will decrease from 1.7 million in 2019 to less than 370 000 by 2025
  • The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses will decrease from 690 000 in 2019 to less than 250 000 in 2025.
  • The goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children will see the number of new HIV infections drop from 150 000 in 2019 to less than 22 000 in 2025.

Image Gallery – Clinical Management of HIV – Certificate Award Ceremony

Director’s Message September – October 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse years of progress across many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the virus has impacted everyone, it affects the world’s poorest and the most vulnerable people the most. The SDGs related to HIV and AIDS speak to ending AIDS and other communicable diseases by 2030. This is further reflected in the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV (CRSF) 2019 – 2025 that serves as the guiding strategy for the Caribbean Region. However, actions to accelerate the CRSF have been significantly impacted by the disruptive nature of the pandemic. Health systems are struggling to mitigate the disruptions, which takes away the focus from the elimination agenda.

At the end of 2020, 82% of People Living with HIV in the region were diagnosed. Two thirds (67%) of all People living with HIV were on treatment, and 59% were virally suppressed. This highlights that there are still significant gaps to get to the 2030 agenda of ending AIDS in the Caribbean.

For us to get on track to end AIDS by 2030, Caribbean countries must step up the pace around prevention, testing, treatment, care and ending stigma and discrimination. This is going to necessitate a doubling up of efforts requiring us to ensure the continuity of services in a significantly disrupted environment while at the same time accelerating progress around the elimination goals.

Key Populations must be at the centre of the response to ensure that we strategize correctly to meet service delivery during the pandemic and respond to the elimination agenda. Key populations and their sexual partners accounted for more than 60% of new infections in 2020 and continue to be disproportionately affected by both the pandemic and the HIV epidemic.

Some strategies that must be adapted are decentralizing services to access points preferred by Key Populations to ensure uninterrupted access to HIV services and reducing contact with clinics. We would also need to scale up Multi-month Dispensing (MMD) and community refills of ART, PrEP and other medications. We will also need to maximize online service delivery options. However, while doing so, we must ensure that these services are assessable, affordable and Key Populations have the necessary infrastructure to access these services.

While the pandemic can be disruptive, it presents us with an opportunity to implement new strategies to mitigate its impact and ensure continuity of services. If these solutions are sustained beyond the pandemic, they may also modernize HIV and key population programming and position us towards the elimination agenda.

COVID-19 Behaviors Dashboard

The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs recently launched the COVID-19 Behaviors Dashboard. The digital tool highlights data from a global survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices around COVID-19, including vaccine acceptance.

A webinar to launch the Dashboard was held earlier this week. Click below for the webinar recording and presentation slides. A link to the Dashboard is also below.