The Second Regional Training Workshop for National Assessments on HIV/AIDS, Law, Ethics and Human Rights takes place on 7-11 November 2003 in Georgetown, Guyana.
Eight CARICOM proposals were approved by the Board of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) at its Sixth Meeting, which runs from 15-17 October 2003, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The successful proposals are from Guyana and Haiti, two each; Belize, Jamaica, the OECS and the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), one proposal each.
Mr. Chairman
Incoming Chairman of the COHSOD, Minister Lawrence Achong
Other Honourable Ministers of Government
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Representatives of International and Regional organizations, especially Ms. Grace Strauchan, Regional Director of the ILO, who is attending her first meeting of the COHSOD
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media
Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
The Caribbean Commission on Health and Development (CCHD) was launched on Monday, 22 September 2003, in Washington DC. United States.
The goal of the CCHD is to give substance to the 2001 Nassau Declaration The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region. In this regard, the Commission will be responsible for providing the guidelines for action to increase investment in health in the Caribbean Community.
The Region has been asked to eradicate the stigma attached to the HIV/AIDS virus, in order to create a more supporting environment for persons infected with the disease and furthermore to encourage the general public to get tested.
At the just concluded second annual meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP) for HIV/AIDS, held this week, in Georgetown, Guyana, members noted that HIV/AIDS discrimination was the single most devastating factor contributing to the social isolation of victims and thus increasing the spread of the epidemic.
The Project Management Group (PMG) for the project “Strengthening the Institutional Response to HIV/AIDS/STI in the Caribbean” (SIRHASC) is due to meet later this week in Saint Lucia to assess efforts at building the Region’s capability to combat the dreaded diseases. The Project Management Group of five regional institutions will also fine-tune a range of activities slated for next year, completing the three-year programme of cooperation among these institutions.
The Caribbean Community today, 22 August 2002, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the William J Clinton Presidential Foundation in support of the Region's continuing efforts of fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The MOU recognises the commitment of CARICOM Member States to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic through integrated treatment care and prevention programmes, which has seen the adoption of a comprehensive strategy and road map for implementing the Regional treatment and care strategy.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) has signed an agreement with six pharmaceutical companies, which will allow the Caribbean Region to access cheaper anti retroviral drugs for the care and treatment of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS related law, ethics and human rights violations will be tackled by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as the region moves to address discriminatory practices against persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) along with USAID will be lending financial support to the Community while the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network will provide technical assistance.
The Fourth Meeting of the Project Management Group responsible for "Strengthening the Institutional Response to HIV/AIDS/STI in the Caribbean (SIRHASC)" will be held at the Sunset Shores Hotel in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 6-7 June 2002.