Media Centre
Press Release

PANCAP to Host Ninth Meeting of National AIDS Program Managers and Key Partners in Trinidad and Tobago

February 27, 2025

February 27, 2025, Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana – The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) is pleased to announce the Ninth Meeting of National AIDS Program (NAP) Managers and Key Partners, scheduled to take place from March 17 to 19, 2025, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

This pivotal event will bring NAP managers, regional health officials, civil society representatives, international partners, and key stakeholders to evaluate progress, address gaps, foster innovation, build capacity, and strengthen partnerships to advance sustainable and impactful HIV responses in the Caribbean.

The meeting will focus on critical areas such as advancing HIV prevention, treatment, and care strategies, addressing persistent challenges in the regional HIV response, leveraging innovative technologies and approaches to improve health outcomes, and strengthening partnerships to ensure a sustainable and inclusive response.

Dr. Shanti Singh Anthony, Coordinator, Knowledge Management, PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU), stated, “Once again, we provide a unique platform for NAP Managers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and international partners to meet and exchange knowledge, build capacity, align efforts, share insights, and develop actionable strategies to achieve a more coordinated and coherent regional HIV response.”

Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson added, “While the Caribbean is making commendable strides towards achieving the 95-95-95 prevention targets, some gaps and challenges threaten the sustainability of the progress. As international donor funding diminishes, the urgency to transition to sustainable, locally-driven solutions has never been greater.” She also emphasized, “Now is the time for regional governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, stakeholders and communities to unite and invest in resilient health systems and prioritize long-term strategies that ensure no one is left behind.”

The PCU recognizes and thanks the CARICOM Secretariat, The Global Fund, and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) for supporting the Ninth Meeting of National AIDS Program (NAP) Managers and Key Partners.

ENDS

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 established on 14 February 2001.  PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, and coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilise resources and build the capacity of partners.

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.

What are the 95-95-95 Targets for ending AIDS?

  • 95% of People Living with HIV know their HIV status;
  • 95% of people who know their status on treatment; and
  • 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.

HELPFUL LINKS:

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/