National Plan for HIV/AIDS to be made public in 2004

Minor adjustments are to be made to the five-year (2003-2007) HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan and it will be presented to the public next year. This was disclosed by Technical Director for the Secretariat, Dr Amery Browne last Friday after  the launch of the TT Postal Corporation/Caribbean Epidemiology Centre postage stamp issue for World AIDS Day 2003. “The Plan is comprehensive, multi sectoral and devised with input from the national community, it was not a body of people sitting in a room devising what is best for the country in dealing with HIV/AIDS.” Dr Browne said the plan has been “accepted in principle” by Cabinet. He added that a few adjustments will be made before the Plan is sent back to Cabinet for final approval.

The key strategic areas of the plan are, reduction of new infections, treatment and care for those infected and affected by the virus and protection of human rights, which Dr Browne said is a critical area. Research and surveillance are also included. While there is yet no legislation to protect the rights of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs), he said  there are movements toward legislative change at the level of Caricom, and locally. In her address at the launch, Angela Lee Loy, Chairperson of the Co-ordinating Committee for implementing the Strategic Plan, referred to stigma and discrimination being practised at all levels of society, in families who turn their backs on infected relatives, extending to the health care providers, employers, funeral agencies and friends.

She said stigma and discrimination is an extreme violation of human rights and by doing so created an environment where people were less likely to seek testing, get proper care or disclose their status to their partners. Lee Loy said stigma and discrimination reduced the likelihood PLWHAs will speak up and put a face to the epidemic. She said after 20 years with HIV/AIDS, TT is at a cross road in dealing with the disease, and people can pull together or plunge further into the abyss. Lee Loy said there are exemplars like President George Maxwell Richards willing to speak out that TT can do better. She added that the country benefitted from agencies such as the Pan American Health Organisation, Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, private sector and “tireless commitment” of non-governmental organisations. Lee Loy hoped the private sector would “link up” with NGOs to give them financial assistance. Underscoring the role which every citizen must play in the fight against HIV/AIDS she said: “We must put aside our differences myths, egos, and bad habits to work together to achieve a national priority.”