BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MARCH 29TH 2004) – The World Bank has approved a US$9 million grant to support the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) efforts to coordinate and strengthen the impact of their national HIV/AIDS programs.
According to release from the Washington-based financial institution, the grant, in parallel with other international assistance, would be an essential component in helping establish and effectively coordinate regional support to Caribbean countries in their efforts to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on the human and economic development of the Caribbean Region.
“This is particularly relevant in the context of the accelerated movement toward a Caribbean Single Market and Economy, and to create a venue for knowledge sharing and exchange of country experiences. This project will help to build a strong regional response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean maximising the impact of different national efforts and scaling up the fight against HIV/AIDS across the region,” said the World Bank's Country Director for the Caribbean, Caroline Anstey. She said that expanding the reach of life saving drugs by expanding laboratory testing services is a key component of the program.
The grant will support regional efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide treatment and care specifically for poor and vulnerable groups, including: development of tools and best practices and their adoption at country levels to help reduce stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, including the review of legal frameworks in the countries and the development of regional policies, guidelines and legislation; prevention efforts to reach youth, migrant and mobile populations; strengthening of regional laboratory services for HIV/AIDS care and treatment and opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, and treatment monitoring,
surveillance and research activities; and strengthening the management and operation capacity of key regional institutions (Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, the University of the West Indies, and UNAIDS) that support countries efforts against HIV/AIDS.
“The new project will help to realize the potential offered by a region-wide framework to deal with HIV/AIDS, strengthening the partnership among countries, regional institutions, and civil society organizations such as the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. As a result, the HIV infected persons in the Caribbean will have a voice and major role in the implementation of the project,” said World Bank Lead Health Specialist for the Caribbean, Patricio Marquez.
This regional initiative was developed by the Pan Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP), under the auspices of the CARICOM Secretariat. PANCAP is responsible for regional policy and cooperation among the Caribbean countries to strengthen the region's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. PANCAP partners include Caribbean states; multilateral agencies (including the World Bank); bilateral agencies; regional NGOs; academic institutions, private sector and faith-based organizations, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS, and regional intergovernmental organizations.
The grant will primarily benefit CARICOM member countries, including: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic (observer member of CARICOM), Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname.
“In the last year, we have made sure that the Bank puts its technical and financial resources into programs on the ground, and implements them adequately,” said World Bank Director, Global HIV/AIDS Programme, Debrework Zewdie.
“The Bank's Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programs (MAP) also complement efforts made by other partners such as UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's program, as well as the US Government's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Initiative,” added Zewdie.
The US$9 million International Development Association (IDA) grant will be implemented over four years by the CARICOM Secretariat, in conjunction with the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC), and with the participation of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+), and the United Nations AIDS Program (UNAIDS).
The grant is part of the World Bank's US$155 million Caribbean Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Adaptable Program Lending (APL) approved in June, 2001.
