UN HIV/AIDS envoy finishes role in the Caribbean region

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS has completed his tenure in the Caribbean region.

Guyana-born Edward Greene was appointed to the post on 1 January 2012, and is now looking ahead to future opportunities.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your activism in our collective quest to end AIDS by 2030, and in particular for the courtesies and cooperation you have extended to me,” Dr Greene wrote in a personal note to friends and colleagues.

He said it is evident that while the region has made positive strides in prevention, care and treatment, much more needs to be done to combat AIDS.

“In this regard I feel confident that the commitments resulting from the Forum of Caribbean First Ladies/Spouses and PANCAP Regional Consultations, in which I was involved with parliamentarians, faith leaders, civil society, youth leaders and national AIDS coordinators, will contribute greatly to positive outcomes for the Region,” he added.

Greene has will work in the same field until the end of 2017, with his new role as special adviser to the UNAIDS executive director and CARICOM/PANCAP.

“During this period I will assist in accelerating the Fast Track and Justice for All Initiatives,” he said.

“Most of all I look forward to the regional consultation of faith leaders and representatives of the LGBTI community planned for December.”

Stellar career

Professor Greene has a long regional and international career in the fields of academia, social sector development, poverty alleviation, organisational development and AIDS.

He has had 10 books and over 50 articles published, and established tenure at the University of the West Indies.

In 2000, he joined the CARICOM Secretariat as assistant secretary-general, of human and social development.

Highly sensitised to the AIDS situation in the Caribbean, Professor Greene crafted the blue-print for the establishment of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), which was recognised in 2004 as an international best practice in the response to AIDS.

Among the many contributions of Professor Greene to the success of the PANCAP, was the landmark 2002 agreement between CARICOM/PANCAP and six large pharmaceutical companies, bringing a significant reduction in the price of antiretroviral drugs for the Caribbean.

For his contribution to the region in health, HIV and human and social development, the government of Suriname invested him with its second highest national honour, Grand Officer in the Order of the Yellow Star, in 2010.

The Caribbean Youth Ambassadors Corp bestowed on him the Life Time Youth Award for his pioneering role in the region’s youth and development agenda.