The National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC), Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, hosted an HIV Policy Development Workshop. The NACC has been mandated by Cabinet to develop a National HIV Policy and to provide guidance and recommendations on other sectoral policies. The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States Agency International Development (USAID) and Health, Finance and Governance (HFG) have been providing financial and technical assistance with the development of the National HIV and AIDS Policy for Trinidad and Tobago.

USAID consultant attached to the HFG, Ms Sarah Insanally began focus groups and key informant consultations in August and was the facilitator of the HIV Policy Development Workshop convened on 17 November.

The aim of the workshop was to engage Stakeholders from Government, Civil Society, Private Sector, Academia and Unions through discussions and consultations around key thematic areas in the national HIV and AIDS Policy such as:
1. Governance, leadership and coordination
2. Sustainability and financing
3. Treatment
4. Prevention
5. Strategic Information

The Consultant also engaged with stakeholders from the NGO and health and social sector in Tobago. The information and contributions obtained from this workshop and from other meetings with stakeholders on both islands would be used to produce the first draft of the National HIV and AIDS Policy which would be subjected to further review by the NACC and as well as other stakeholders before being submitted to Cabinet for approval as a Green Paper for public consultations.