Life
Caribbean countries working to strengthen HIV programs through human rights
UNAIDS Caribbean said Monday that 8 regional countries have finalized specific strategies aimed at strengthening their HIV programs by making them more responsive to human rights.
It said that the representatives from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago met her last week for a 3-day workshop hosted by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
It said they discussed cultural, social and political barriers to eliminating stigma and discrimination and increasing access to social justice.
“In the Caribbean, the HIV response has experienced remarkable progress. However, inequality and exclusion are hampering efforts to reduce new HIV infections and to increase the number of people on treatment.
“Stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and key populations such as sexually active young people, men who have sex with men, transgendered people, sex workers, people who use drugs, homeless people and prisoners , remains a major obstacle to expanding access to HIV services. It also hinders people’s ability to live full and productive lives of dignity,” according to a statement issued by UNAIDS Caribbean.
The Caribbean is the second most affected region in the world in terms of HIV prevalence rates.
UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team Director, Dr. Ernest Massiah, said that the investments made in securing social justice in the context of HIV would positively impact other areas of Caribbean life.
