(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Port of Spain, Trinidad— In his acceptance speech at the General Meeting held 2-3 June, the newly elected Chairman of the Board of the Caribbean Regional Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (CRN+), Mr. Ainsley Reid of Jamaica, recognized the strides made across the region in the fight against the spread of HIV and in the care and support of those people living with HIV.
Mr. Reid voiced sentiments about the fear that still exists among people living with HIV including stigma, discrimination and death. However, he noted that because of the significant work done nationally, regionally and internationally to address HIV as a key development priority, such problems have seen a reduction since the establishment of CRN+ in 1996. He assured members that he and the other newly elected Board members are fully committed to the continued work of CRN+ to benefit all those affected by HIV.
With the theme “Re-Creating, Re-Structuring, Re-Envisioning,” the meeting sought primarily to identify key priorities to inform the new strategic plan and for sustainability. The priority areas agreed by CRN+ are in line with those of the overall proposed 2014-2018 PANCAP Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework.
The strategies for ensuring continued sustainability were identified as managing the visibility of the organization; strengthening community advocacy and engagement; and building stronger and more effective communication platforms.
Mr. Jorge Saavedra and Mr. Michael Kahane of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation gave a presentation on Advocacy for HIV Care and Treatment highlighting the importance of advocating for anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV. Mr. Saavedra also discussed the new “90-90-90 Target” as agreed at the first Latin American and Caribbean Continuum of Care Forum recently held in Mexico. “90-90-90” pledges to increase to 90 percent the proportion of people who know their status, the proportion of those who are HIV+ on antiretroviral treatment and the proportion of those who are HIV+ with a suppressed viral load.
The new Chairman, Mr. Reid, is joined on the Board by Mrs. Chrystol Albert-Hope, Vice-chairman (Guyana), Mr. Winfield Tannis-Abbott, Secretary (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Mr. Ansil Henry, Treasurer, (Trinidad and Tobago), Ms. Patricia Phillips, Assistant Secretary (Barbados), Ms. Linda Perpie, Assistant Treasurer (Barbados).
The constitution was revised and accepted for ratification at the 2016 General Meeting.
Ms. Nadine Lewis-Agard chaired, Ms. Claudette Francis (Co-founder, CRN+) facilitated selected sessions and Dr. Noreen Jack (Pan American Health Organization) provided additional technical support.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of the National Networks of People Living with HIV/AIDS with its Partner Organizations, and was co-sponsored by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Joint United National Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Caribbean HIV&AIDS Alliance (CHAA).
The meeting was broadcast live online at www.ustream.tv/channel/18151599.
CRN+ is located at Lot 122 Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago.
Telephone: (868) 223-9714/223-8522 Extensions 230/231.
E-mail: info@crnplus.com. Facebook: www.facebook.com/crnplus. Website: www.crnplus.com .
