Media Releases – Page 55

Religious Leaders Consultation on Ending the AIDS Epidemic in the Caribbean

1-2 February 2017
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Theme: ‘Religious Leaders’ Contribution to the End of AIDS by 2030’
Consultation Communiqué

The Regional Consultation of Religious Leaders, convened at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on 1 – 2 February 2017, brought together 55 Religious Leaders from 14 Caribbean countries, representing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i and Voodoo religions, Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), United Nations and regional officials. It was coordinated by the Planning Committee of Religious Leaders and PANCAP and focused on the theme, Religious Leaders’ Contribution to the End of AIDS by 2030.

The Context

Religious leaders affirmed the reality of God by invoking the divine presence prior to the beginning of each session. Leaders were mindful that our religious heritage positioned us to engage in discussions about faith, justice, love and peace, mindful that we are one family under God. At the opening ceremony, the Chair of the Conference Pastor Winston Mansingh, President, Faith Based Network of Trinidad and Tobago, outlined that the overarching objective of the consultation was to focus on the contributions that religious leaders can make towards ending the epidemic by 2030. The aims were to:

use the targets of the 2016 UN High Level Meeting Political Declaration as guidelines for action
agree on the role religious organizations can play to promote healthy living and well-being for all ages in the region
identify best practices which religious leaders can contribute to ending the AIDS epidemic
identify gaps to be filled in prevention;
identify types of regional cooperation to be undertaken among religious groups/organisations; and
identify resources required to facilitate implementation of recommendations.

Giving welcome addresses and remarks, The Hon. Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister of State within the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago pointed to her country’s commitment at the highest level to the aims of the conference with the recent reinstatement of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee including representatives from religious organisations under the umbrella of the Prime Minister’s Office. Dr Edward Greene, United Nations Secretary-General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean brought greetings on behalf of the Secretary-General and highlighted the imperatives for fast-tracking the response to AIDS. The issues reflected in the remarks of Dr Kevin Harvey, Regional Director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), included the focus of AHF on strengthening partnerships with special reference to supporting a coordinated approach to the implementation of the recommendations from the consultation. Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit brought greetings on behalf of the CARICOM Secretary-General, expressed appreciation for the collaboration with The Global Fund and the support of AHF and UNAIDS. He reinforced the principles agreed to by the Conference Planning Committee of Religious Leaders as follows:

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 sexual and reproductive health and rights including age appropriate sexual education
Implementing legislative reforms for modifying AIDS-related stigma and discrimination

The Keynote and Feature Addresses: Two complementary visions for ending AIDS

In his Keynote address, Prof. Clive Landis, Deputy Principal, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, identified the major scientific developments leading to the conclusion that anti-retroviral therapy (ART) delivers a life-saving benefit to persons living with HIV by abolishing end-stage AIDS. But the power of ART extends to a public prevention benefit as well. “Treatment as Prevention” is the scientific breakthrough of the decade showing that persons living with HIV who achieve viral suppression on ART are non-infectious. Hence, an important avenue to ending AIDS is removing societal barriers that stand between persons living with HIV and effective ART treatment. Everyone in society therefore has a rational self-interest in eliminating stigma and discrimination in order to create a supportive environment where people feel secure enough to know their status, to access ART medication and to achieve viral suppression. These attitudes will have the effect of lowering HIV viral load in the population and hence limit HIV transmission in society.

Rev. Phumzile Mabizela, Executive Director of International Network of Religious Leaders Living With of Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA), giving an inspiring feature address shared her experience as a faith leader who is living with HIV. She encouraged religious leaders to see themselves as a positive force for change and advocates for removing policy and legislative barriers in order to effectively deal with HIV. She challenged participants to lead by example, to reclaim the dignity of sex and sexuality, and to view HIV as a justice issue to which religious leaders should appropriately respond by addressing the structural injustices that make people vulnerable. In this regard she identified six ‘evils’ that need to be addressed – Stigma, Shame, Denial, Discrimination, Inaction and Mis-action (SSDDIM). She urged participants to stand in solidarity with those affected by HIV.

The consultation also welcomed Dr Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS who gave the closing address. He encouraged religious leaders to remain committed to the very bold recommendations. He pointed to his association with PANCAP from its inception and pleasure that it continues to be the glue around which creative ventures like this could galvanise the regions stakeholders including governments, NGOs, religious groups, private sector, youth, civil society and parliamentarians. He pledged UNAIDS’ continued support to the Caribbean partnership and pointed to the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding between UNAIDS and PANCAP aimed at collaborating in the venture to fast-track the end of the AIDS epidemic.

Perspectives of Religious Organisations on the prospects for ending AIDS

Three country presentations from Belize, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago illustrated some best practices to inform the dialogue within the working groups. They were complemented by a special session led by Dr Nyambura Njoroge, Programme Executive, World Council of Churches (WCC), on that organisation’s ecumenical campaign “Thursdays in Black: Toward a World without gender-based violence and rape.” A background paper on PANCAP pointed to best practices and together they formed a useful basis for dialogue around treatment as prevention within three working groups.

Recommendations

Two extended periods of working groups and discussions by religious and lay leaders resulted in the following actions:

Supporting the “Fast-Tract Targets” in the 2016 UN High Level Political Declaration to fast-track the end of the AIDS epidemic by 2030;
Promoting healthy living of people at all ages of the life cycle by placing emphasis on plugging the Prevention gaps that include stressing family values, age appropriate sexual education, and creative ways of communication and dissemination of information to reach various audiences;
Facilitating best practices through the process for effective support and leadership in the area of treatment and care;
Paying particular attention to actions that address the reduction of violence against women, girls and adolescents and the inclusion of men and boys in this venture;
Seeking to secure sustainable technical and financial resources for programmes led by religious groups through shared responsibility and collaboration with government and non-governmental stakeholders and development partners;
Exploring the short and medium actionable recommendations of the PANCAP Justice For All (JFA) Roadmap, especially in so far as they enable religious groups and organisations to effectively address the gaps in prevention and treatment interventions and continuing the dialogue on how to proceed with those elements yet to be resolved;
Establishing the foundations of a Network of Religious Leaders interconnected with national focal groups to achieve a more consolidated approach to ending AIDS with a mechanism for effective communication and dissemination of information;
Seeking to engage representatives of key populations including men who have sex with men, sex workers and injecting drug users and others in programmes aimed at identifying respective rights and responsibilities involved in the process toward the elimination of AIDS-related stigma and discrimination;
Noting areas of litigation that may challenge religious values and the responses required to harmonise principles and practices around human rights, human sexuality and human dignity.
Reach out to other FBOs who were not included in the discussion to get their feedback on the matters raised.

Next Steps

Religious Leaders agreed to:

Establish a Regional consultative group working virtually toward the implementation of the recommendations;
Discuss the recommendations for action with their national religious councils and provide a progress report to the regional consultative group by 1 July 2017;
Share information on activities initially using the PANCAP website;
Consider the possibility of follow up regional workshops, ‘think tanks’ and consultations.

Expressions of Gratitude

Commendations were extended to the Chair and Planning Committee, the Keynote and Featured Speakers, the PANCAP Coordinating Unit and collaborating partners, The Global Fund, AHF and UNAIDS, the media and the management and staff of the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

We remain grateful to God for the vision provided religious leaders and other stakeholders for coming together in this fashion to deliberate on matters of faith and practices. As religious leaders, we are committed to the fight against HIV and AIDS and we are convinced that with God all things are possible in the march towards the realisation of our full humanity in God and with each other.

Contact
Timothy Austin
Communications Specialist
PANCAP Coordinating Unit | Knowledge for Health (K4Health)
CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen
Tel: (592) 222-0001-75, Extension 3409
Email: taustin.consultant@caricom.org
Fax: (592) 222-0203

US$12.9B Pledged By Donors For AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Says Minister Of Health and Social Security, Grenada

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Fund convened a Side Event at the PAHO 55th Directing Council to provide for an update on the developments of the Global Fund in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

Speaking at the Side Event, Hon. Nickolas Steele, Minister of Health and Social Security, Grenada and Board Member, Latin America and Caribbean Constituency of the Global Fund Board stated that at the recently concluded 5th Replenishment Conference in Montreal, Canada, donors including the private sector and implementing countries pledged US12.9 Billion to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the next three (3) years.

‘We are heartened by this extraordinary global commitment toward ending the three (3) epidemics,’ stated Minister Steele.

The Minister further stated that the allocation based funding model adopted by the Global Fund since 2014 is predictable and agile but it is still relying on the GDP and burden of disease indicators. ‘These we believe are not coherent nor conducive to the New Strategy 2017-2022 vision of ending the epidemics’, stated Minister Steele, ‘It is critical to protect the gains and to support countries already moving into the elimination phase by applying the catalytic funding in the most appropriate and smarter way’.

He also indicated that it is crucial to support civil society and particularly people affected by these diseases by strengthening their capacity to participate and to contribute fully in policy development and implementation.

The Minister advocated that governments must commit to remove legal and other barriers to ensure full social inclusion and access to health for key and vulnerable populations.

Minister Steele urged that special attention is needed for the LAC countries in transition to ensure sustainable outcomes and that the Global Fund needs to provide appropriate support that is not only financial, but which requires a strong and capable regional team.

The Minister explained that to achieve the objective of the elimination of the three (3) diseases, there must be a re-examination of the policy of GDP per capita verses disease burden.

‘We need to give serious thought to the principle that as a country’s population progresses economically, it becomes more mobile and also risks greater exposure to HIV/AIDS in particular,’ stated Minister Steele, ‘let us acknowledge that we have a young population, for whom the perceived threat of HIV is not as frightening. If we do not address this we risk rolling back our gains’.

The Minister concluded his remarks by stating that the Region has a very high return on investment and is available to contribute best practices and experts through South-South cooperation that should be supported by the Global Fund.

PANCAP launches 3-year project to build local capacity in reducing HIV

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) launched its PEPFAR and USAID-funded three-year Local Capacity Initiative (LCI) project to work on reducing HIV transmission in the region, following a two-day meeting in Trinidad late last month.

According to a press release from PANCAP, the project seeks to build the capacity of one regional organisation and several local community service organisations (CSOs) that specifically focus their efforts on key populations.
Through the LCI, it said, the organisations will become more sustainable as they continue to strive towards the overall goal of reducing the transmission of HIV in the Caribbean.

The inception meeting was held from April 28 to 29 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), HEU Centre for Health Economics, Sir George Alleyne Building – Auditorium, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the press release, PANCAP and the UWI HEU Centre for Health Economics will collaborate to implement the project. The project is aligned with the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS (CRSF), 2014-2018.

It was stated that the meeting brought together regional organisations, which support the work of key populations through advocacy and policy. Dozens of representatives from the UWI HEU Health Economic Unit and a number of organizations within the region which focuses on HIV/AIDS attended the meeting.

The release said that during the two days, participants developed their capacity-building initiatives and plans to create synergy between the LCI project and the PANCAP Justice for All programme. They also agreed on target countries, the release said adding that the meeting identified gaps in CSOs’ capacities that hinder achievement of their mandates, it examined examined the content, mechanisms and processes for building the capacity of
CSOs in advocacy and policy work and it highlighted the key requirements for optimizing the outcomes of the LCI project.

Through this initiative, it was stated, PANCAP will receive funding to provide grants to local CSOs in countries funded by PEPFAR for activities such as policy and advocacy, programme implementation and/or building a financially diverse organization. In addition, PANCAP will facilitate identifying and providing technical assistance to those CSOs receiving grants, as well as other regional bodies needing such assistance, the
release said.

This project, according to the release, was informed by the epidemiology of HIV in the Caribbean, which has an HIV prevalence rate of one per cent among adults, and is the second-hardest hit region in the world after sub-Saharan Africa. Among key populations, men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (SWs) are disproportionately
affected by HIV throughout the Caribbean region, it said.

Further it was noted that according to the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF), 2014-2018, Caribbean MSM are five to 10 times more likely that the general population to be living with HIV. In the Dominican Republic, the release pointed out, the prevalence is 11 per cent among MSM in contrast to less than one
percent for the general population while in Jamaica, prevalence among MSM may be as much as ten times higher than for the general population, at an estimated 32 per cent in 2012.

According to the release, prevalence among MSM is similarly high in Trinidad and Tobago at 19 per cent and Haiti at 18 per cent. Because of high levels of stigma, however, survey data may not be representative of the entire MSM population, it noted. By targeting programmes at these key populations, the release said that the LCI Project
will contribute towards the regional goal of an overall reduction of HIV transmission ates.

PANCAP Launches the Local Capacity Initiative Project

Trinidad and Tobago— During and inception meeting 28-29 April, the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) launched its PEPFAR- and USAID-funded Local Capacity Initiative (LCI) Project at the University of the West Indies (UWI), HEU Centre for Health Economics, Sir George Alleyne Building – Auditorium, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.

This three-year project seeks to build the capacity of one regional organisation and several local community service organisations (CSOs) that specifically focus their efforts on key populations.

Through the LCI, the organisations will become more sustainable as they continue to strive towards the overall goal of reducing the transmission of HIV in the Caribbean. PANCAP and the UWI HEU Centre for Health Economics will collaborate to implement the project. The project is aligned with the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS (CRSF), 2014- 2018.

The meeting brought together regional organisations, which support the work of key populations through advocacy and policy. During the two days, participants developed their capacitybuilding initiatives and plans to create synergy between the LCI project and the PANCAP Justice for All programme, and they agreed on target countries. First, the meeting identified gaps in CSOs’ capacities that hinder achievement of their mandates. Next, it examined the
content, mechanisms and processes for building the capacity of CSOs in advocacy and policy work. Finally, it highlighted the key requirements for optimising the outcomes of the LCI project.

Through this initiative, PANCAP will receive funding to provide grants to local CSOs in countries funded by PEPFAR for activities such as policy and advocacy, programme implementation and/or building a financially diverse organisation. In addition, PANCAP will facilitate identifying and providing technical assistance to those CSOs receiving grants, as well as other regional bodies needing such assistance.

This project was informed by the epidemiology of HIV in the Caribbean, which has an HIV prevalence rate of one percent among adults, and is the second-hardest hit region in the world after sub-Saharan Africa. Among key populations, men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (SWs) are disproportionately affected by HIV throughout the Caribbean region.

According to the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF), 2014-2018, Caribbean MSM are five to 10 times more likely that the general population to be living with HIV. In the Dominican Republic, prevalence is 11 percent among MSM in contrast to less than one percent for the general population. In Jamaica, prevalence among MSM may be as much as ten times higher than for the general population, at an estimated 32 percent in 2012. Prevalence among MSM is similarly high in Trinidad and Tobago at 19 percent and Haiti at 18
percent. Because of high levels of stigma, however, survey data may not be representative of the entire MSM population.

By targeting programmes at these key populations, the LCI Project will contribute towards the regional goal of an overall reduction of HIV transmission rates.

In attendance at the meeting were: Ms Falicia Adams, Senior Programme Officer, Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV; Mr. Kip Beardsley , Senior Technical Advisor, Futures Group-Health Policy Project; Mr Ivanhoe Cruickshank, Project Director, Caribbean Vulnerable Communitites Coalition; Ms. Dona DaCosta Martinez, Executive Director, Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr Marcus Day, Director, Caribbean Drug and Alcohol Research Institute; Ms Miriam Edwards, Co-Chair, Caribbean Sex Workers Coalition; Dr Michel de Groulard, Regional Programme Coordinator, Centro de Orientacion e Investigacion Integral; Mr Lucien Desire Govaard, Representative, CariFlags; Ms. Marina Hilaire-Bartlett, Executive Director, Population Services International, Caribbean; Ms. Sandra Jones, Sub-regional Advisor, Pan American Health Organisation; Mr Collin Kirton, Senior Accountant, PANCAP Coordinating Unit; Ms Ann-Marie Libert-Defour, HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Ministry of Health,Trinidad and Tobago; Mr. Kenneth Morrison, Senior Technical Advisor, Futures Group-Health
Policy Project; Ms Yolanda Paul, Project Manager, UWI HIV and AIDS Response Programme; Mr. Vivian Rookhum, Consultant, PEPFAR; Mr. Kishore Shallow, CARICOM Youth Ambassador; Ms. Yolanda Simon, Key Populations Consultant; Mr Dereck Springer, Director, PANCAP Coordinating Unit; and Ms. Lisa Thompson, Programme Management Specialist, PEPFAR.

From the University of the West Indies HEU Health Economic Unit, Director Prof. Karl Theodore was joined by: Dr. Anton Cumberbatch, Public Health Specialist; Mrs Patricia Edwards-Wescott, Junior Research Fellow; Mrs Kimberly-Ann Gittens-Baynes, Junior Research Fellow; Dr. Althea La Foucade, Assistant Coordinator; Ms Christine Laptiste, Research Fellow; Mrs Valerie Matas, Research Techinician; Mr. Roger McLean, Research Fellow; Ms Charmaine Metivier, Junior Research Fellow; Ms Tanika Riley, Research Technician; and Ms Cheryl Theodore, Administrative Assistant.

An AIDS-free Caribbean is Only Possible if All Residents are Taken Care of Regardless of Immigration Status

Melbourne, Australia—Researchers have concluded that migrants are an underserved and vulnerable population in the Caribbean. Robert Cazal-Gamelsy, team leader for the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) project in conjunction Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and EPOS Health Management, presented at the AIDS conference in Australia this week.

There were a number of critical findings and recommendations based on the research by the team that Mr Cazal-Gamelsy discussed. Crucially, he said, it is necessary to counter institutional stigma and discrimination against migrants in health and HIV services. This should translate into domestic law and the signed international legislations and treaties that facilitate migrants’ access to these services. The project recommends the removal the obligation of presenting identification or national health insurance cards to use HIV services, and that countries adopt true ‘Universal access’ to HIV services.

Conclusions of the research are that vulnerable migrants are often ‘invisible,’ which contributes to their increased vulnerability to HIV and decreased access to services. An AIDS-free Caribbean is only possible if all residents are taken care of regardless of their immigration status. Therefore, he urged that it should be a priority to implement antistigma and discrimination legislations and policies and to introduce universal access policies across the region.
In the Caribbean, the project is supporting the adoption of the regional PANCAP Model Antidiscrimination Legislation; developing an amendment to the regional PANCAP Model Legislation to strengthen access of vulnerable migrants to HIV services; and conducting trainings using Caribbean training modules on human rights, cultural sensitivity and stigma and discrimination against migrants.

Specifically in Suriname, the project is working to include HIV in the law on venereal diseases to allow free and universal access to HIV services. In Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean Court of Justice has given a litigant leave to challenge immigration law that prohibits entry of homosexual people into the jurisdiction. And in Sint Maarten the project is working to modify IP (TRIPS) rules to get the authorisation to import generic antiretroviral drugs; and adopt the Universal Access principle regardless of resident status.

Mr. Cazal-Gamelsy urged that there is a need for a paradigm shift from exclusion to inclusion in order that, “nobody be left behind.”

PANCAP – Knowledge For Health

PANCAP

The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) is a partnership of governmental and non-governmental bodies established in 2001 to facilitate a coordinated regional response to HIV/AIDS. It has a membership of 65 countries and organizations and is guided by a Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) on HIV and AIDS, which sets the parameters for collaboration between the PANCAP partners who work at all levels of the HIV/AIDS response.

PANCAP serves as a knowledge hub to support its members to improve the HIV response at the regional and national levels. In an environment of reduced international funding for HIV, global calls to transition to country ownership, and the global move towards the vision of and AIDS Free Generation it is critical for PANCAP to continue to provide strong coordination and collaboration to maintain the gains it has achieved across all partners and around common priorities and goals.

Knowledge for Health (K4HEALTH)

The Knowledge for Health (K4Health) PANCAP Project is an initiative to support the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) in its role as a regional coordinator and knowledge facilitator.

Funding for the K4Health PANCAP project is provided by The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through K4Health via a field buy-in by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Eastern and Southern Caribbean mission.

PANCAP Director to Address Sustaining Regional Efforts to End HIV At 30th COHSOD Meeting

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV & AIDS, PANCAP, will be represented at the Thirtieth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), by Director, Dereck Springer. The COHSOD meeting will be held from September 24 – 25 in Washington.

The PANCAP Director noted that his objective is to highlight the milestones and successes achieved in the response to HIV in the Region, while urging members of the COHSOD to advocate for the sustainability of these efforts in order to protect future generations and people living with the disease.

The milestones achieved in the Caribbean region through initiatives by PANCAP include a sharp regional reduction in HIV incidence in 2014 (UNAIDS 2015); declining AIDS-related deaths (UNAIDS 2015); antiretroviral coverage increased to 52% from less than 5% of the eligible population in 2001 (PAHO 2016); virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission in some countries, with Cuba becoming the first country in the world to have achieved this milestone, and several countries poised to do so; as well as substantial investments in strengthening health systems and in scaling up services for on-going care and support for people living with HIV.

‘It is important that these achievements be allowed to continue by investing in the sustainability of efforts regarding HIV prevention, treatment, stigma and discrimination,’ stated Mr. Springer.

The PANCAP Director further stated that it is crucial to strengthen efforts to respond to HIV since many International stakeholders have declared their objectives to end incidences of HIV infection. The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS in June 2016 has adopted the ‘2016 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS: On the Fast-Track to accelerate the fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030’. This UN declaration corresponds with the principal message in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind.

‘There is also the challenge of funding and the need for policymakers within the Caribbean to commit to continued efforts to end HIV’, stated the PANCAP Director, ‘my objective is to bring to the attention of the COHSOD the need to urgently address the issue of funding since this can have the potential consequence of reversing the work done in the past 10 years in response to HIV’.

The Director concluded that he anticipates garnering the full support of the COHSOD in advocating for the continued funding of programs to address HIV prevention, treatment and discrimination.

The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) promotes human and social development under Article 17 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

PANCAP Hosts Knowledge Synthesis and Best Practices Workshop to Build Capacity of Civil Society Organizations and National AIDS Programme Managers within the Region

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV&AIDS, PANCAP, is hosting a three (3) – day workshop (November 22 -24) in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on Knowledge Management and Best Practices for in excess of forty (40) participants consisting of leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers from the Caribbean.

The workshop is meant to foster further collaboration between CSOs and NAP managers through a series of engaging knowledge management (KM) activities that will allow the participants to share their success stories and best practices with those that may be struggling in similar areas of their operation.

According to Director, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dereck Springer, the workshop intends to avoid routine training presentations and instead focus on bridging any gaps between CSOs and NAP managers by involving them in highly interactive knowledge sharing sessions. ‘The key word now in HIV/AIDS programme implementation is ‘sustainability’, stated the Director, ‘it is imperative that all CSOs and NAP Managers within the region be equipped for dealing with the on-going challenges of sustaining such programmes. PANCAP believes that a joint effort between CSOs and NAP managers can have a very positive effect on the approach to dealing with the sustainability challenge including overcoming funding and financial challenges. If these two (2) parties collaborate with a united effort, the opportunities for securing financial security and acquiring the human resources needed to maintain HIV/AIDS programmes can be realized’.

The PANCAP Director further stated ‘two of the main outcomes who hope to achieve is building the capacity of NAP Managers to more effectively advocate for the needs and requirements of CSOs at a National level and strengthening the abilities of CSOs to adequately garner national and international support for their activities and programmes in HIV/AIDS’.

The Director explained that he expects the most success from the ‘Knowledge Café’ activity which allows participants to engage in group discussions about topics affecting the implementation of programmes revolving around HIV/AIDS. The groups will be facilitated by a number of experts within the fields of HIV/AIDS programme implementation and knowledge management.

‘The Knowledge Café will provide an ideal environment for participants to learn about the successful programmes implemented by CSOs and NAP managers’ stated the PANCAP Director, ‘those participants who are lacking the capacity to create that success can generate a road map through discussing their weaknesses and areas in which they need help with those who have already crossed those hurdles’.

Knowledge Coordinator, PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dr. Shanti Singh-Anthony explained that in addition to the Knowledge Café, another highlight of the workshop will be the ‘Peer Assist’ sessions. ‘These sessions will build on the discussions generated in the Knowledge Café but will allow for more intimate interaction between participants seeking help in particular areas and those who are willing to share their success stories,’ stated the Knowledge Coordinator, ‘the face-to-face discussion is ideal for participants who wish to enhance their abilities to effectively advocate for their HIV/AIDS causes and programmes’.

The workshop is being held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad from Tuesday November 22 to Thursday, November 24. PANCAP will provide ‘live’ updates on the workshop, including interviews with facilitators and participants, via www.PANCAP.org as well as social media platforms available at www.facebook.com/pancapnetwork and www.twitter.com/pancaporg

All updates can be viewed as they are posted by using #KM4SUSTAINABILITY.

‘Strengthening the Regional HIV Response’ is the focus of Fifth Meeting of National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers and Key Partners

The Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) is hosting over 70 NAP managers, selected chief medical officers and permanent secretaries, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, and partners from across the Region for the Fifth Meeting of NAP Managers and key partners at the Office of the Parliament, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 6 – 10 March, 2017. The forum will focus on strengthening the regional HIV and AIDS response. The meeting is funded by the Global Fund and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the meeting, Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, called for a ‘recalibration of the messages being used to educate the public on HIV and AIDS. ‘Despite the millions of dollars invested in HIV and AIDS prevention, people are failing to change their risky behavior’, stated Minister Deyalsingh, ‘we have to get our men in particular to take responsibility if we are going to end HIV by 2020’.

The Minister further emphasized that since donor funding for the disease in the Caribbean is dwindling, programme implementers must be strategic and focus more efforts on behavior change. ‘We must reach our young people using the forms of media that occupy their time,’ stated the Minister, ‘if we are to truly end HIV by 2020, we must invest our efforts in creating real behavior change’.

In his address, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dereck Springer, stated that the meeting is occurring at an ideal time when the entire region is discussing the sustainability of the HIV and AIDS response in the Caribbean and it offers an opportunity to assess progress on current global strategies, and identify innovative ways to address gaps and strengthen the Caribbean regional HIV response.

‘I am pleased that the discussions will focus on identifying what gaps and challenges remain in the Region’s response to HIV and AIDS as prevention is high on the list of critical initiatives which must be resuscitated and sustained,’ stated the Director, ‘most pivotal to the discussion will be the next steps and recommendations for bridging these gaps. These next steps are of particular importance when one considers the regional challenge of reduced funding for HIV and AIDS programmes as well as the region-wide discussion on the need for Government supported programmes to fill the gaps which remain’.

The discussions with NAP managers and key partners will be conducted within the context of the Caribbean’s advancement in achieving the 90-90-90 targets with the overarching aim being an agreement on recommendations, which NAP managers and pivotal stakeholders can advocate at the level of policy implementation.
An update from development and regional partners, including The Global Fund, PEPFAR, UNAIDS, CARPHA, the University of the West Indies, Caribbean Med Lab Foundation and ‘Live Up’ on current and planned initiatives for the Caribbean region, including progress and support provided by development partners for countries and regional partners, is another feature of the agenda. There will also be an update on the PANCAP Local Capacity Initiative Project and the PANCAP-Johns Hopkins University Knowledge for Health Project.

‘I encourage all NAP managers and civil society partners to utilize the forum to formulate strategic next steps for strengthening the regional HIV and AIDS response,’ stated Mr. Springer, ‘the ideal outcome from the forum will be an agreement on policy recommendations and strategies for assisting countries to operationalize their responses to achieve the global and regional targets’.

Editor’s Notes

Background to the National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners Meeting

The Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) 2014-2018 articulates the vision and collective priorities of Caribbean states through their membership in the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). The core premise is that stemming the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean rests on the commitment, capacity and leadership of national authorities and effective response. The primary goal of regional collaborative efforts is to support country responses by addressing common challenges in the areas of evidence based policy formulation, and innovative responses to addressing legislative gaps, resource mobilisation, coordination and technical assistance., An effective regional response, guided by the CRSF 2014-2018,therefore requires that the links and interfaces between country programmes and regional support programmes be defined and agreed to by country partners. This is critical for strengthening country ownership of the PANCAP response and a shared responsibility to strategically align efforts to end HIV as a public health problem in the Caribbean.

The NAP (National AIDS Program) Managers and Key Partners Meeting provides an opportunity for joint decision-making in setting programmatic priorities and identifying partner contributions in order to strategically align efforts in the fight against HIV. The Meeting Agenda is intended to allow for in-depth analysis and discussion on the relevant aspects of the UN Post 2015 Agenda, and the overall advancements of the Caribbean Region in implementing new initiatives for HIV. It is within this context that opportunities and challenges for the Region and individual countries to expand the national responses will be discussed. PANCAP acknowledges the need for greater attention to inter- country linkages and greater collaboration with regional partners. This will serve to maximise synergies, and provide a mechanism for making regional public goods available to national programmes to enhance their delivery and impact.

What are the 90-90-90 targets?

By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression)

Follow updates from the Meeting of NAP Managers and Key Partners using #StrengtheningHIVResponse

Honourable Nicolette Henry and Professor J Peter Figueroa Elected as Chair and Vice Chair of PANCAP Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for New Global Fund Project QRA-H-CARICOM, No. 1122

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) for the new Global Fund Project QRA-H-CARICOM, No. 1122 elected the Hon. Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Guyana and Prof. J. Peter Figueroa of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus as the new Chair and Vice Chair respectively during the First Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) which was convened on 4-6 April 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica.

The three-year grant, in the amount of US$5,075,234 began on 1 October 2016 and will end on 30 September 2019. The grant aims to contribute to the removal of barriers that impede access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for key populations, thereby promoting the achievement of regional HIV targets. The Sub-recipient is the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Sub-sub-recipients are the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), while the collaborating partners are the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) and The University of the West Indies – Health Economics Unit (UWI-HEU).

The new Chair, Hon. Nicolette Henry expressed appreciation to the RCM for electing her and committed to an inclusive approach. She invited members to contribute to the work of the body and thanked the former Vice-chair Professor Donald Simeon, for his excellent leadership and guidance during his tenure.

Minister Henry has over 20 years of experience providing technical guidance and support required for the planning, implementation, and strengthening of HIV public health programmes. She served as a Programme Development and Public Health Specialist (HIV Prevention) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global AIDs Programme Guyana. Minister Henry is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Health and is the holder of a Master of Public Health and a Degree in Pharmacy.

The new Vice Chair, Professor J. Peter Figueroa stated that it was an honour and privilege to serve in this capacity and committed to work with the Chair and all members to achieve the goals of the Global Fund grant. Dr. Figueroa is Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology and HIV and AIDS at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus where he has developed a doctorate programme in public health. He was formerly the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health of Jamaica and for many years the Chief Epidemiologist and Director of the National HIV/STI Programme in Jamaica. He is also a Scientific Secretary of the Caribbean Health Research Council and the former Chair of the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC) and Vice Chair of the Executive Board of PANCAP.

In addition to the election of the new Chair and Vice Chair, the RCM conducted an orientation of members on governance, oversight functions, management of conflicts of interest, and internal and external communication as well as a reviewing and endorsing of its oversight role and communications plan.
The meeting received a Status Report on the implementation of the new PANCAP Global Fund grant which highlighted the programmatic achievements, financial disbursements and expenditures as at 31 March 2017 and provided strategic guidance to the Principal Recipient, CARICOM Secretariat, on how to achieve the goals of the grant.

Editor’s Notes

Voting members of the RCM include Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) of Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Regional Coordinating Mechanism (OECS RCM), The University of the West Indies (UWI), Pan Caribbean Business Coalition, Caribbean (PCBC), Conference of Churches (CCC), representatives of key population groups; CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Corp. (CYA), Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+), Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS), Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC) and International Organization for Migration (IOM). Non-voting members represent the US President’s Emergency (PEPFAR), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU) and the RCM Secretariat.