~~Adz:Right~~ Charlestown, Nevis --A two-day HIV/AIDS national consultation will be held on Monday September 3 to September 4 from 9.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m at the Mount Nevis Hotel, Nevis.Participants who are drawn from all walks of life will have an opportunity to listen to UNAIDS, Alliance and Measure consultants disseminate findings on the situation analysis, assessment of Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis laws, regulations and policies. The consultation is convened by the Ministry Of Health (MOH), Nevis and the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit (NACU).

The dissemination consultation is expected to help determine specific actions required to eliminate stigma and discrimination against Persons Living with HIV as well as to main stream gender issues in the country’s response to HIV/AIDS.

Participants will be afforded opportunities to define the new/revised priorities and activities to inform the National Strategic Plan 2008-2013.

The Ministry of Health through the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit (NACU) has been collaborating with several local and regional agencies to revise and/or update the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS to enable implementation of activities for the period 2008-2013.

To date, teams of consultants have completed a situation analysis, an assessment of Federation laws, regulations and policies to determine specific actions required to eliminate stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS as well as efforts to main stream gender issues in the country's response to HIV/AIDS.

NACU recognizes and encourages ongoing stakeholder participation as the most appropriate approach to ensure that the revised and/or updated National Strategic Plan when completed is reflective of the salient issues identified by groups, individuals and organizations nationally.

For more information contact Nadine Carty-Caines at the Nevis HIV Unit, telephone 869-469-8010, fax 869-469-0768, or email nccaines@gmail.com. Thank you for agreeing to partner with the Ministry of Health and the Nevis HIV/AIDS Coordinating Unit as we endeavour to further expand our country's response to confront the challenges occasioned by HIV/AIDS.