(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The progress on the Elimination Initiative and policy dialogue on the integration of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) into health systems will be the focus of the First Special Meeting of Regional Chief Medical Officers (CMOs). The meeting which is being sponsored by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), will be held in Saint Lucia from March 19-21, 2012.

Preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT) is one of four actionable areas identified at the PANCAP 10th AGM as a key priority for the achievement of the Millennium Goals by 2015. Over the three days, the CMOs will assess the progress of the Elimination Initiative currently being spearheaded by UNAIDS and PAHO. The importance of case-based surveillance and laboratory support as part of a policy dialogue on Health System strengthening, particularly on the integration of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), will also be high on the agenda.

CMOs from all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States will attend the meeting along with representatives of the Regional Support Agencies of PANCAP including UNAIDS, PAHO, and CAREC. One country, Curacao will be represented by the Minister of Health Ms. Jacinta Constancia

PANCAP is a regional partnership established by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2001 to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean. The elimination of mother to child transmission is one of the regional goods and services under priority area three of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF). Over the last four years the Region has been making significant progress in implementing PMTC programmes with funding and technical support mobilised by PANCAP