NEWS RELEASE
British and Dutch Overseas Caribbean Territories to Benefit from EC Funding for HIV
CURACAO: June 26, 2009 - Netherlands Antilles Health and Social Development Minister, the
Hon. Mrs. Omayra Leeflang, today delivered the keynote address at the launch of a five-year,
US$8million European Community (EC) project designed to halt and reverse the spread of
HIV/AIDS in the British and Dutch Caribbean Overseas Caribbean Territories (OCTs). Minister
Leeflang, in describing the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on regional social and economic
development, commended the EC, PAHO and the other participating organizations for what she
termed "an important regional program".
The project entitled Strengthening the Integration of the British and Dutch Overseas
Caribbean Territories in the Regional Response to HIV/AIDS through the Pan Caribbean
Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP)
is intended to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on
the health, social and economic sectors of participating countries. It is being implemented by the
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Among the specific achievements of the project will be enhanced prevention efforts to reduce the
spread of the disease, greater access to care and support for HIV/AIDS victims, strengthened
human rights for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs), marked improvements in the
capacity of participating countries to implement comprehensive HIV/AIDS programs and better
coordination among the countries and the wider Caribbean.
The inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC), which was chaired by Mr. Ralph
James, who represented the Regional Authorizing Office of the Project, was held immediately after
the launch. The PSC, which will provide overall policy direction to the project, comprises
representatives of the participating Overseas Territories as well as international and community
organizations including PLWHAs. Other participants at the meeting are national project focal
points together with regional stakeholders (PANCAP, OECS) and international partners including
the EC, UNAIDS, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and PAHO.
The countries involved in the project are Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman
Islands, Curacao, Montserrat, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Other speakers at the launch included Ms. Monica McLean of the European Commission, Mr. Neil
Smith, Deputy Regional Authorizing Officer (DRTAO) of the Caribbean, Dr. Gina Watson, PAHO
representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and Dr. Amalia Del Riego of the PAHO
HIV Caribbean Office (PHCO).
Contact: Sonja Caffe, Ph.D., MPH, HIV/STI Prevention Advisor, PAHO HIV Caribbean Office (PHCO), Farma
Building, Duke Street 112- 114, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
Tel. 868-624-0400.
