Stigma and Discrimination is neither helpful nor acceptable, admonished Hon. Nicolette Henry, Minister of Education (Guyana) as she committed to continue her role of advocacy for an enabling environment in which persons can access the total HIV Package- Prevention, Treatment, care and support services, Irrespective of who they are.
These commitments formed part of the overarching message of as the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), re-launched the PANCAP Champions for Change initiative after an eleven-year hiatus.
Minister Henry on Tuesday at the Guyana Marriott as Chair of the Regional Coordinating mechanism and as someone who has worked in the HIV epidemic field for over two decades echoed categorical sentiment during remarks that, “The rights of people living with HIV and Aids should be protected and not violated.”
Offering congratulations to PANCAP on the re-launching of “CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE” Minister Henry noted too that the initiative is paramount to achieving the United Nation’s goal of ending AIDS by the year 2030.
Although the idea for the champions for change initiative was convened in ST. Kitts and Nevis in 2004, it has been in a state of dormancy since 2008.
However, Minister Henry noted that it was the 2004 multi stakeholder meeting brought together international partners, PLHIVs the private sector, etc. Nevertheless the initiative Henry opined produced substantial global gains in the AIDS response since 2004.
“This progress would not be possible without the advocacy efforts of the people living and affected by HIV, the rapid scaling up of access to HIV treatment thus reducing deaths by 45% and increased the life expectancy of the population and prospects of elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV.”
Pointing out the UNAIDS recognition that the progress made towards the elimination of HIV was driven by a multi-sectorial approach which included a coalition of governments, private sector, developmental partners civil society and most importantly renowned academics’ Minister Henry MADE it Clear that “This multi stakeholder approach offers useful models for resuscitating the Champions for Change Initiative in an effort to recognize that the AIDS epidemic is not over.”
Like many other Caribbean Countries, Minister Henry said, Guyana remains committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly goal 3 which states Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promote well-being for all ages.
In 2015 there were 285,900 people living with HIV, a decline from 333,400 in 2010 and 450,000 in 2005. Additionally, statistics show that 87% of PLHIV reside in only four Caribbean countries, namely Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
On the other hand, Minister Henry noted that the Caribbean has gained recognition globally as the first region in the world to eliminate Mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Even though Cuba is the first country in the world to do so, according to the UNAIDS GARP report (July 2016) there has been an increase in new HIV infection in the Caribbean by 9% during 2010 -2015 with Jamaica and Cuba contributing largely to this percentage.
Stigma and Discrimination a major issue in the Fight
One of the main contributing factors to the rise in new HIV infection in the Caribbean is the persistent stigma and discrimination, particularly to the key population such as commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, lesbians and transgender communities.
However, Minister Henry noted that “with the resuscitation of Champions for Change we will be building on the initiative to aggressively address the issue of stigma and discrimination.
Henry noted too that this forum will examine the main outcomes and challenges of the 2004 initiative and efforts made to establish policies and programmes to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
Additionally, it will review the decisions, regional consultations and policies in order to establish their relevance to facilitating Champions for Change.
Further Minister Henry noted that the initiative will explore the possibilities for institutional strengthening and partnership to facilitate the sustainability of a revamped ‘Champions for Change’ initiative and finally the expected results for establishing and sustaining Champions for Change.
The mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, PANCAP two-day event features presentations from Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of PANCAP, Ms. Joan Didier, Board Member, Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition and Dr. Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary-General Human and Social Development (CARICOM) while the keynote speaker was the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Originally launched in 2004, the Forum features representation from a wide cross section of PANCAP members, partners and stakeholders engaged in discussions around the theme ‘Champions for Change IV: ending AIDS by 2030’.
During the event, sixteen (16) champions were celebrated with accolades from among the participants, which include civil society organisations, National AIDS Programme Managers, faith leaders, academia, the private sector, youth, regional parliamentarians and other advocates for HIV awareness. Topping the list was H.E. Sandra Granger, First lady of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
‘Champions for Change IV seeks to align the expected contributions of the Champions for Change with international and regional commitments for ending AIDS’ stated Director of PANCAP, Mr Dereck Springer, ‘these include the UN High Level Meeting Political Declaration (June 2016); the Caribbean Cooperation in Health IV (2016), the PANCAP Justice for All Roadmap (2015/2016) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Director further explained that the re-launched initiative seeks to assess the impact of recommendations for overcoming barriers to ending AIDS identified by major international and collaborating agencies, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Participants of Champions for Change IV discussed recommendations from the recent PANCAP consultations of Faith Leaders (February 2017), National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners Meeting (March 2017), Meeting of Youth Leaders: Sexual and Reproductive Health (April 2017), Regional Parliamentarians Forum (May 2017), and other related initiatives such as the Caribbean First Ladies/Spouses championing the ‘Every Caribbean Woman Every Caribbean Child’ Initiative (February 2017).
PANCAP utilized the re-launched initiative to create achievable targets, goals and timelines that will guide the new champions in their advocacy and HIV awareness implementation with the overarching aim of significantly contributing to the end of AIDS by 2030.
Context – PANCAP Champions for Change
In the Caribbean, there were 285,900 people living with HIV in 2015, a decline from 333,400 in 2010 and 450, 000 in 2005. However, 87% of People living with HIV live in just 4 countries in the Caribbean: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba. There is also a variation in coverage with Cuba having the highest at 69% and the Jamaica, the lowest at 32%. Most countries have committed to ‘test and treat’ using the new WHO guidelines and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets. While the Caribbean is on track to be the first region in the world to eliminate MTCT- Cuba, being the first country in the world to do so—there has been an increase in new HIV infections in the Caribbean by 9% 2010-2015 (UNAIDS GAP Report July 2016) with the main drivers being Cuba and Jamaica.
Many Caribbean countries still criminalise same sex relations and in those countries, key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender persons are subjected to pervasive stigma, discrimination and violence.
History of the PANCAP Champions for Change Initiative
The PANCAP Champions for Change was initiated in 2004 and convened in St. Kitts and Nevis. The event brought together multi-stakeholders including parliamentarians, faith leaders, youth, private sector representatives, international partners and People Living with HIV. It focused significantly on eliminating stigma and discrimination. PANCAP facilitated further stakeholder engagements among faith-based organisations in 2005 and media operatives in 2006.
(Article & photos by The Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth & Sport)