Combating HIV/AIDS In Cayman

(l-r) Dr Kathleen Allen-Ferdinand, Stewart Smith, and 
Nicola Taylor, facilitators at the National Consultation 
for HIV/AIDS Strategic Planning

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Devising a plan to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Cayman Islands, was the focus for a strategic planning session which took place at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday, 11 December.

The National Consultation for HIV/AIDS brought together a cross-section of public and private sector representatives and was organised by the Ministry of Health Services, Agriculture, Aviation and Works, and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, based in Trinidad.

Dr Kathleen Allen-Ferdinand, one of the event's facilitators said: "It has been a very productive day, we've come up with a mission statement that embraces everything we want to get from the strategic plan."

Nicola Taylor, programme management advisor for the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre added: "Throughout the Caribbean we have been working with countries to develop a strategic plan that focuses on expanded response."

Representatives at the meeting included immigration, health, education, banking, religious and youth organisations. Ms Taylor explained that HIV and AIDS had become a developmental issue, rather than just a health issue, and this was partly the rationale behind the multi-sectored approach. 

"It's still a health problem, but because it's affecting the young productive people in society, it has now become an economic issue too," said Ms Taylor.

"No matter how high the GDP of the country is, eventually it will break down because there won't be the people to do the work, and that is why we needed to have a national consultation with representation from different sectors," Ms Taylor said.

Ms Taylor stressed the importance of the design and implementation of prevention programmes as well as treatment programmes. 

"It is also important to reduce the stigma attached to the disease," she added.

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