Shirley to Address Forum on HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley, will participate in a panel discussion in New York on January 29, focusing on the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica. The Ministry of Health and the Senior Medical Officer responsible for the government’s National HIV Control and Prevention Programme, Dr. Yitades Gebre, have reiterated the commitment of the Ministry to increase its efforts to effectively stem this pandemic. He also noted that a total of 11 countries sent medical teams to Jamaica last year to observe on-going AIDS prevention initiatives put in place by the Jamaican government to manage this growing health challenge.
Jamaica’s treatment programme has been commended by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and has also been recognized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In addition, several countries and territories within the region, including Barbados, the Bahamas, Belize and of the Turks and Caicos Islands have fashioned public awareness campaigns, focusing on combating HIV/AIDS in concert with the Jamaica’s AIDS control and prevention programme.
In addition to Professor Shirley, the Chief Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Figueroa, will be participating in the forum and will provide an overview of on-going programmes and activities in the island, aimed at preventing the spread of the disease, and caring for those who have been affected.
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Basil Wilson of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.While attending the forum, which will be held at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, Ambassador Shirley will meet with Jamaican clergy in the New York City area.