ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (CARICOM PANCAP) was reminded that it must assist its member countries to find solutions to meet the demand for technical assistance in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This was the charge from the Hon. Dr. Douglas Slater, Minister of Health St. Vincent and The Grenadines to the Ninth Meeting of the CARICOM-PANCAP Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) which opened Thursday, September 20 in the St. Vincent and The Grenadines.
Speaking at the opening session, the Minister emphasized the need for PANCAP to assist countries in “bridging the technical assistance gaps that exist and undermine effective and efficient program implementation. “That is one way of showing real added value to countries,” he said.
The Hon. Dr. Jerome Walcott, minister of Health, Barbados and chair of the RCM, in his brief remarks reminded the gathering of the Region’s commitments to achieving universal access to HIV and AIDS related prevention, care and support services by 2010.
With a prevalence rate that is one and a half times that of the global average, “the Caribbean needs to remind itself constantly that it remains the most heavily HIV infected region of the world behind sub-Saharan Africa”, the minister said.
A key highlight of the brief opening session was the conferral of the Champions for Change Award on two stalwarts in the fight against HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination. Archdeacons Charles Adams and Dr. Sylvanus Regisford of the House of Hope Society in St. Vincent and The Grenadines received the award from Minister Walcott for purposeful and tangible demonstration in giving care and support to persons infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly those who were stigmatized.
In thanking PANCAP for the recognition of his work, Archdeacon Adams acknowledged the role placed by many persons and organizations, singling out his household for special mention. “… in the initial stages it was very hard on my household, but they gave full support, he said”.
Ms. Manton, Manager of the House of Hope Society accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Regisford.
Carl Browne, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit and Chair of the Session ably put the event into context, to the cross section of invitees which included the media, support groups of People Living with AIDS, government and Non-Governmental Organizations.
The PANCAP Partnership – a network of governments, the private sector, faith-based organizations and other NGOs, regional institutions such as the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), Caribbean Regional Network of people living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+) Caribbean Health research Council (CHRC), University of the West Indies (UWI), UNAIDS and the UN system in general, donor partners – continues to make an important contribution to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean.
The RCM is the policy-making body of the Partnership.
