Territory Helps Steer Discussion at Regional HIV-AIDS Forum

Head of Gender Affairs Ms. Patricia Hackett (far left) was one of the panellists who debated the topic “The Implementation of Care and Support Programmes and Experiences with Community Outreach,” during the recent regional forum on HIV/AIDS, which was held in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Photo credit: The Commonwealth Foundation)

The Commonwealth Foundation Workshop on HIV and AIDS was organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and coordinated by the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA).

The August 25-28 workshop was organised under the theme “Enhancing Skills Development and Sharing Lessons Learnt to Mitigate the Impact of HIV/AIDS in the Commonwealth Caribbean,” and attended by participants from several Commonwealth Countries.

Head of Gender Affairs Ms. Patricia Hackett was among the panelists who debated the topic ‘The Implementation of Care and Support Programmes and Experiences with Community Outreach.’

The panel discussion was based on the findings of a research survey that was conducted in Guyana, St. Lucia, and Belize. Ms. Hackett spearheaded the research in Guyana, which was funded by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and coordinated by the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) Secretariat in Trinidad and Tobago.

During her comments Ms. Hackett focused on commercial sex workers who are among the most exposed and are therefore more likely to contract HIV and AIDS. Among other things, she said commercial sex workers are more vulnerable to stigmatisation and discrimination, while being denied universal access to good healthcare at public health clinics.

“The need for care and support programmes are crucial for all of us to challenge the rising epidemic, this is especially true for commercial sex workers who are mainly women living in abject poverty,” she noted.  

Ms. Hackett also suggested that apart from having adequate access to medical treatment, encouraging words from friends and relatives, and general acts of love can go a long way in helping the victims of HIV and AIDS to cope with the disease.

She was joined by panelists who represented CAFRA and the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of Trinidad and Tobago. 

The conference’s keynote address was delivered by the Barbados’ Minister of Family, Youth, Sports and the Environment the Honourable Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo.

The Office of Gender Affairs, formerly the Women’s Desk, is a unit within the Ministry of Health and Social Development. It is charged with, among other things, developing and implementing policies and programs that promote gender equity and equality in the Territory. The Office previously functioned under the Premier’s Office.