Need for strategic collaborations to end AIDS amplified –as PANCAP hosts second joint regional stakeholders’ dialogue

Sep 12, 2019 News

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Even as international funding dwindles to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS, some Caricom Member States can still count their blessings. Recently this has translated to a US$6,500 grant compliments of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which is expected to help advance the efforts aimed at ending AIDS.

Speaking of this development this week was Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS [PANCAP] Director, Mr. Derek Springer. Springer was at the time speaking at PANCAP’s second joint regional dialogue with parliamentarians, faith leaders, civil society leaders, national AIDS programme managers and youth leaders held in Trinidad on Tuesday [September 10, 2019].
He explained that the funding being dubbed a ‘Multi-country Caribbean grant’ has not only been awarded to PANCAP but the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition [CVC] and the Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN). The grant is expected to be utilised over the period October 2019 to September, 2022.
Describing it as unique since it is a joint PANCAP/CVC/COIN collaboration, Springer said, “The grant is a demonstration of the collaboration between Governments and civil society partners…it illustrates the critical need for us to ensure that we position civil society as key partners within the HIV response.”
PANCAP, which is based in Guyana, was established by a declaration of Caricom Heads of government on February 14, 2001 in response to the threat of HIV to sustainable human development. Based in Jamaica, CVC is a coalition of community leaders and non-governmental agencies that are advocates and service providers, working with and on behalf of Caribbean populations who are especially vulnerable to HIV infection or often forgotten in access to treatment and healthcare programmes.
COIN, on the other hand, was born out of the HIV epidemic in the Dominican Republic, and concentrates its efforts in implementing education and prevention programmes, healthcare provision, fighting against social discrimination against vulnerable groups, as well as empowerment of marginalised communities.
The tactical work of the three entities is crucial to the ending AIDS agenda. In fact it was in the quest to amplify the need for collaboration that Tuesday’s meeting was held. Delivering remarks at the opening of the meeting was Mr. Ian Ramdahin, Permanent Secretary (ag) of the Secretariat of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) with the Trinidad and Tobago’s Office of the Prime Minister.
Ramdahin emphasised that as the 2020 juncture for reporting on how each country and the region, as a whole, would have performed, regarding the 2020 targets set by UNAIDS, assessing progress in combatting HIV and AIDS is of paramount importance. He noted this will highlight and influence the adjustments required to chart the new roadmap for guiding the level of scale-up necessary for achieving the more significant target of “Ending AIDS by 2030.”
He went on to applaud PANCAP for the concerted effort in mobilising and engaging the key stakeholders, adding that they have important and influential roles in determining “how we protect those who are most vulnerable to HIV; and care, treat and respect those who are living with HIV and AIDS.”
“I must commend PANCAP for establishing the mechanisms for monitoring the arrangements in place for responding to the HIV disease, which allows us to gauge and report on the progress to date,” Mr Ramdahin added, pointing to the fact that, “Through PANCAP’s sustained efforts, we are able to identify and re-evaluate the areas in need of redress or further collaboration, and ensure that there is ongoing follow-up action.”
According to him too, “in aiming for our target of an AIDS-free world by 2030, where new infections are almost negligible, we must remember at the heart of this global campaign is the protection of the dignity of Human Rights, which is critical for attaining our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
He noted that geopolitical instability, escalating impacts of climate change and unanticipated financial hurdles are impacting negatively to cause shifting of the disease burden and straining the Region’s ability to mobilize the much-needed resources to mount an effective response. “We can all agree that if we are to collectively work together towards the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, introspection at the individual and regional governance levels are necessary for fostering ‘greater collaboration’ among all stakeholders,” Ramdahin said.
He further emphasised that in achieving this state of “greater collaboration,” it is incumbent that dialogue be centred around conversations that are geared towards aligning synergies for creating a more diversely inclusive environment that is free of biases, mistrust, phobias, stigma and discrimination.” This is especially crucial at the national and regional levels, where Ramdahin said, “We can more efficiently identify tools and strategies to augment communication and collaboration of a richer and deeper quality.”
Meanwhile, the PANCAP Director, in his remarks reflected on the First Joint Regional Dialogue held in April 2018 which also brought together Parliamentarians representing government and opposition, Members of the Regional Faith Leaders Steering Committee and other selected Faith Leaders, Regional Civil Society Leaders who work with key populations, members of the PANCAP Youth Advocacy Steering Committee and National AIDS Programme Managers.
He noted that the stakeholders of the first regional dialogue held in April 2018 provided recommendations including the need to create guidelines for respectful dialogue between key populations leaders and faith leaders. In response, PANCAP prepared general principles designed to assist and support respectful dialogue between and among stakeholders, especially in cases where discussions are centered on sensitive and controversial issues. These include discussions that may involve social, cultural and doctrinal issues in conflict with each other.
Another recommendation from the first dialogue was the review and revision of the PANCAP Justice for all [JFA] Roadmap [2014] in light of developments over the last five years. In response, PANCAP, with inputs from various stakeholders’ dialogue, revised the JFA Roadmap.
The Director of PANCAP also highlighted that during the 2018 meeting, faith leaders indicated that they could not endorse the UNESCO Comprehensive Sexuality Education [CSE] models since they were unfamiliar with them. To improve their understanding, PANCAP developed nine info-graphics which illustrate the key components of the CSE models.
The Director further explained that the Second Regional Dialogue was positioned within the new Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS [CRSF] 2019 – 2025. He emphasised that the CRSF articulates the vision, goals, objectives, strategic priorities and key strategies which will guide the Region’s HIV response over the next six years. “We are moving closer to ending AIDS, so we need all hands on deck,” stated Springer, adding that “With that in mind, we are required to be bold and innovative as reflected by the strategies within the CRSF 2019-2025.”

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