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Mar 11, 2017 News
-increased focus being given to behavioural change
An urgent call has been made to include more civil society organisations in programme implementation and for an increased emphasis on behavioural change strategies, particularly focused on men.
This notion was emphasised during the Fifth meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) for National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers and Key Partners at the Office of the Parliament, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
During the meeting, which spanned the period March 6 through March 8, 2017, there were presentations, discussions and activities that revolved around strengthening the HIV response.
Ms. Gardenia Destang-Richardson, National AIDS Programme Manager, Ministry of Health St Kitts and Nevis and National AIDS Programme Managers Representative on PANCAP Governance Bodies, called for NAP managers, permanent secretaries and other policy makers to intensify efforts to include members of the civil society organizations at all levels on HIV and AIDS programme planning and implementation.
Ms. Destang-Richardson received consensus from participants on measures to strengthen the HIV and AIDS response in the Caribbean.
Among the steps recommended are moves to recalibrate messages being used to educate the public on HIV and AIDS to focus on creating behaviour change; focusing on men and boys to influence more sexual responsibility within society even as moves are made to leverage the policy making influence of permanent secretaries and chief medical officers and should include civil society organizations at all levels of HIV and AIDS programme implementation.
“Civil society organizations have their finger on the pulse of the key populations,” stated Ms. Destang-Richardson. “In rural areas where exposure to media and HIV and AIDS education is limited, it is the CSOs that drive the message and prevent many new infections through public awareness activities and advocacy.
“Hence, we need their input at all levels when planning strategies related to the end of AIDS by 2020. They provide pivotal insight and inform unique approaches to bringing key messages to their populations. I challenge every NAP manager, permanent secretary and chief medical officer at this meeting to advocate for inclusion of CSOs at all levels, including policy development, moving forward.”
Participant Kinesha Thom, representative of the Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC), made an appeal for policymakers and donor partners to create new avenues for involvement of CSOs. “We deserve recognition as the pathway through which most of the HIV and AIDs awareness is received by key populations,” stated Ms. Thom, “hence we are integral to formulating programmes related to HIV and AIDS, especially if we intend to increase efforts to create behaviour change.”
Echoing the challenge issued at the Opening Ceremony on Monday by Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Dereck Springer, Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, challenged all participants to rethink public education on HIV and AIDS to focus more on behaviour change strategies that will significantly cause members of key populations to exercise more responsibility with their sexual behaviour.
“We have to concentrate on our boys and men when we conceptualize prevention messages,” stated the Director. “They have a tremendous influence on sexual behaviour in society and we must leverage this influence and channel it in a positive way.”
The meeting held in Trinidad and funded by the Global Fund and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), hosted over 70 NAP managers, selected chief medical officers and permanent secretaries, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, and regional and development partners.
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