Friday 14 February 2020 (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, has collaborated with the Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN) to facilitate a learning exchange focused on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and successful HIV testing strategies for key populations to access prevention and treatment.  The capacity-building initiative will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 17-21 February 2020.  The two entities previously collaborated on a learning journey in June 2018.

The initiative is led by Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Knowledge Coordinator, PANCAP, who explained that the learning exchange was designed for participants to experience first-hand the process utilised by COIN to coordinate and collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, other civil society organisations and stakeholders to deliver comprehensive HIV services in communities and to key populations.

The learning exchange will also expose participants to components of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which serves as a highly effective prevention modality, and successful HIV testing and linkage strategies for key populations.

At the conclusion of the learning exchange, participants will be tasked with developing country-specific action plans to enhance in-country collaboration among civil society organisations and representatives of the national HIV programme to improve how key populations access prevention, testing and treatment.

Countries participating in the learning exchange are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Participants will comprise country teams of National AIDS Programme Managers and civil society organisation (CSO) representatives. A total of ten persons from the six countries will participate and interact with representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, Dominican Republic, COIN, and other CSO representatives.  Participants will also engage with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, National HIV response and community-based organisations through site visits to clinics and outreaches.

The learning exchange is supported with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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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.

What is the Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN)?

The Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN) is a private, social interest institution of the Dominican Republic, created on November 28, 1988, by a multidisciplinary team of people with shared experience in community and health work.  Born as a result of the emergence of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and trafficking in persons in the Dominican Republic, COIN has concentrated its efforts on implementing educational programmes.

COIN’s programmes focus on prevention, health care and social discrimination.  The entity implements innovative strategies and approaches that serve to empower key populations. In their work with marginalized populations, COIN promotes the integration of the community in the identification of their needs and problems and works with them to define policies and execute solutions.  COIN currently operates in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti with 82 staff.

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