Georgetown: The meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers, Senior Health Officials and HIV and AIDS Regional partners, was held in Port-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from 21-23 October 2013 with funding from the PANCAP Global Fund Round 9 Grant and USAID. Co-chairs of the meeting: Prof. Figueroa, Chair of the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee; Mr. Dereck Springer; Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit; Dr. Patrick Martin, Chief Medical Officer, St. and Kitts and Nevis; Ms. Julie Frampton, National AIDS Programme Coordinator, Dominica, Dr. Irad Potter, Chief Medical Officer, British Virgin Islands, presided over a work program which sought to facilitate country ownership and sustainability of the Caribbean HIV response by giving countries a stronger voice to determine the HIV regional response.
The meeting noted the positive gains in managing the Caribbean epidemic, including the reduction in the number of new HIV infections annually, the improved access to HIV treatment and care and the high likelihood of achieving the goal of eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV in the Caribbean. However, concern was expressed in relation to a number of ongoing challenges.
The meeting was of the view that the Caribbean could benefit from more open acknowledgement and discussion of sex and sexuality, fostering greater, more accurate information flows to youths and maturing adults. It was of the view also, that our approach to youth sexuality is impaired by personal discomfort and outmoded norms and their was dire need to manage the transition of youth to adulthood with a more conscious appreciation of their emerging sexual evolution; and so boldly arm them with the support and skills to enable a seamless, less painful transition into adulthood, thereby minimizing the current risks to which they are exposed.
Further, the meeting was of the view that this more open approach to human sexuality requires advocacy from our public figures, opinion leaders including religious and political leaders and the active participation of our parents, teachers and community.
The meeting expressed its concern regarding the inadequacy of social prerequisites for preventing HIV and supporting care and treatment; these include housing, nutrition, security and employment.
The meeting urged governments to pay more attention to these social determinants, in particular, in addressing the lag in affirming Human Rights and the specific issues of sexual discrimination, violence and abuse.
The meeting called for the HIV response to be integrated into the health system and social development, in a way that builds on the best of the existing primary health care infrastructure and the quality components of the HIV programme.
The meeting emphasised the importance of achieving universal access to HIV treatment and considered the value of providing earlier lifelong treatment for persons living with HIV, while ensuring that the quality of care and adherence to medication are maintained. The current policy of avoiding breast-feeding by HIV positive mothers was reaffirmed.
The meeting noted with some concern that while significant progress has been made in reducing HIV stigma throughout the region, recent studies show that stigma and discrimination within health the health sector remains and needs to be systematically addressed and the practice of confidentiality reinforced.
The meeting noted that the Region has an opportunity to improve the enabling environment, accelerate the HIV response and include those at higher risk who continue to face real discrimination in their daily lives through the PANCAP Justice for All Progamme that would engage stakeholders across the Region in community conversations and consultations.
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