PANCAP Knowledge Exchange Promotes Successful Models of Care for Key Populations

(PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat) The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) has
collaborated with the Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro
de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN) to facilitate a learning
exchange focused on Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and successful HIV
testing strategies for key populations to access prevention and
treatment. The capacity-building initiative will be held in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic from 17-21 February 2020. The two entities
previously collaborated on a learning journey in June 2018.

The initiative is led by Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Knowledge Coordinator, PANCAP, who explained that the learning exchange was designed for participants to experience first-hand the process utilised by COIN to coordinate and collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, other civil society organisations and stakeholders to deliver comprehensive HIV services in communities and to key populations.

The learning exchange will also expose participants to components of a
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which serves as a highly
effective prevention modality, and successful HIV testing and linkage
strategies for key populations.

At the conclusion of the learning exchange, participants will be
tasked with developing country-specific action plans to enhance
in-country collaboration among civil society organisations and
representatives of the national HIV programme to improve how key
populations access prevention, testing and treatment.

Countries participating in the learning exchange are Antigua and
Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines.

Participants will comprise country teams of National AIDS Programme
Managers and civil society organisation (CSO) representatives. A total
of ten persons from the six countries will participate and interact with
representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance,
Dominican Republic, COIN, and other CSO representatives. Participants
will also engage with the Ministry of Public Health and Social
Assistance, National HIV response and community-based organisations
through site visits to clinics and outreaches.

The learning exchange is supported with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

What is PANCAP?

PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional
civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations,
bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners
which was established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured
and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic,
coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic
Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and
increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.

What is the Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN)?

The Integral Orientation and Research Center/Centro de Orientación e
Investigación Integral (COIN) is a private, social interest institution
of the Dominican Republic, created on November 28, 1988, by a
multidisciplinary team of people with shared experience in community and
health work. Born as a result of the emergence of the HIV and AIDS
epidemic and trafficking in persons in the Dominican Republic, COIN has
concentrated its efforts on implementing educational programmes.

COIN’s programmes focus on prevention, health care and social
discrimination. The entity implements innovative strategies and
approaches that serve to empower key populations. In their work with
marginalized populations, COIN promotes the integration of the community
in the identification of their needs and problems and works with them
to define policies and execute solutions. COIN currently operates in the
Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti with 82 staff.

Contact:

Timothy Austin

Senior Project Officer, Communications

PANCAP Coordinating Unit

CARICOM Secretariat

Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana

Email: taustin.consultant@caricom.org Tel: (592) 222-0001-75, Ext. 3409 | Visit http://pancap.org