$8m to fight HIV/AIDS

A TT$8 million agreement was signed yesterday between the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), for the implementation of a regional HIV/ AIDS project.

The agreement for the project, “Building a Faith-based Response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean,” was signed at the Canadian High Commission, Sweet Briar Road, St Clair. The three - year project, which is being implemented by the CCC, aims to mobilise and enhance the response of faith - based organisations and strengthen their projects on HIV/AIDS, especially in the areas of care and support initiatives, education and awareness building. Canadian High Commissioner Simon Wade re-affirmed the Canadian Government’s commitment to assist the Caribbean in its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He said while the virus has been around for the last 21 years and many medical advances made during that period, no cure has been found. He noted that over 15,000 people worldwide are infected every other day. The Caribbean is recorded as having the second highest infection rate in the world, with 2.4 percent of the population HIV infected.

Wade said although there is no known cure, every possible measure must be taken to educate the people on the simple, straightforward precautions which must be taken, if the steady upward incidence of this disease is to be arrested. Wade also explained that CIDA  is assisting two other local projects on HIV/AIDS run by the Caribbean Epidemiology Research Centre (CAREC) and the UWI’s Arts in Action Theatre Group. CCC General Secretary Gerard Granado said the project was established to respond to human developmental issues in the region. To date, the CCC has implemented training programmes in awareness building, counselling and behaviour. The current project will be done in conjunction with CCC members churches and the wider religious community.