St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas, has suggested that several key issues must be considered by Caribbean leaders and other stakeholders in developing a framework for reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence, and the associated stigma and discrimination, going forward. Key among these, he said, are: accelerated treatment and prevention regimes, activism, co-ordinated negotiations, sustainable financing mechanisms, and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says special provisions must be made, where necessary, to protect the welfare of persons who are among the most marginalised and disadvantaged. She underscored this point in a speech delivered by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during Wednesday’s (April 9) opening ceremony for the three-day Caribbean Consultation on Justice for...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says efforts to eliminate the discrimination and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS will only yield success when those most in need of medical care, support, and treatment, can access these without fear of victimization and ridicule. She emphasised this point in a speech delivered by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during...

A total of US$16 billion has been allocated for disbursement to small, developing states, like Jamaica, to fight debilitating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The funds are being provided under The Global Fund’s revised financing model for 2014 to 2016, and are available for distribution to eligible nation states, with each country having a specific allotment, depending on...

As it continues to strengthen the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS infection rates in Jamaica, the Government has budgeted $506 million for the Transitional Funding Mechanism programme. As contained in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure currently before the House of Representatives, existing gains consolidated, and activities scaled up to reduce transmission of new HIV infections, while mitigating the impact. The project,...

A sum of $262.5 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to bolster the Ministry of Health’s capabilities to deliver critical services. The larger share of the sum, $162.5 million, will go towards the Disease Prevention and Control project, with the main objectives being to provide financial assistance through a...

Persons most at risk for contracting HIV are being targeted under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded programme. As outlined in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the HIV Prevalence in Most-at-Risk Population Reduced programme, which runs from October, 2009 to September, 2014, will this financial year receive $294.1 million. The objectives of...