Georgetown: The USAID-supported Advancing Partners and Communities project (APC) and the Guyana Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (GBCHA) launched a campaign to expand and strengthen collaboration between Guyana’s business sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) responding to HIV and AIDS at the DDL Building, 44 High Street in Kingston, Georgetown, 22 May, 2014.
APC Chief of Party, Folami Harris, said that the campaign is about expanding and strengthening partnerships between the Business Sector and the NGOs. “We want to improve the visibility of NGOs responding to HIV and AIDS and keep the Business Sector informed about successes in the national response without burdening them with rhetoric. Through the campaign, we hope to stimulate a broader range of partnerships between them for sustaining the NGOs response.”
Guyana’s impressive achievements in HIV prevention and treatment have maintained solid declines in new HIV infections down from 1,258 in 2006 to 758 in 2013 and AIDS-related deaths has reduced from 475 in 2002 to 194 in 2010. “These gains would not have been possible without the combined effort of government, NGOs, development partners and the business sector”, said Tracey Lewis, Chairperson of the Board for GBCHA. Ms. Lewis also stated that, “Guyana’s Private Sector Response serves as a model for partnerships aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and the associated stigma and discrimination.” In the face of declining external funding, Guyana’s business and NGO sectors are being called on to expand and strengthen partnerships to support the goal of zero new HIV infections.
A total of 83 persons attended the event from 44 businesses, 12 NGOs, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and international development partners USAID, US Peace Corps, CDC, UNDP, UNFPA, SCMS and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP).
Dereck Springer, Director of the PANCAP Coordination Unit commended APC and GBCHA for “rebranding and reinvigorating the Business-NGO partnership in health and wellness in Guyana”
Members of the business sector in attendance also expressed their appreciation for the effort. “It is commendable that an event of this nature was held to sensitize and encourage the business community to participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS.” said Ms Smith, a representative from Courts Guyana Inc. “It’s important for companies to get on board and exercise corporate social responsibility,” added Gregory Shaw of California Stucco, another business representative in attendance.
About Advancing Partners & Communities (APC): APC is a five-year project funded by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360. APC’s core funding covers grants management and capacity building for NGOs providing services for HIV prevention, care and support. In Guyana, APC supports eleven NGOs across 8 of the 10 administrative regions: Artistes in Direct Support, Agape Network, Comforting Hearts, the FACT Group, G-Plus, Hope for All, Hope Foundation, Lifeline Counselling, Linden Care, United Bricklayers and Youth Challenge Guyana.
About Guyana Business Coalition against HIV and AIDS (GBCHA): GBCHA celebrates 6 years on May 23rd as a registered non-profit organization which works with the Business Sector, the Ministry of Health, International Partners and Community Based Organizations to mobilize resources to assist in the National HIV/AIDS response. Since launching in 2008, GBCHA expanded its mandate to address general health and wellness including Gender Based Violence.
