Editorial Things that go bump in the Night

Editioral: -
1001 Things that go bump in the Night

Firstly, we at MSMNPA extend our sincerest of well wishes to all persons who were affected by hurricane Ivan in our region. HIV/AIDS organisations in Jamaica and Grenada reported damages to property and offices. Rachael Charles from Grenada Hope Pals Foundation was subjected to a considerable loss of property and personal belongings. She states that all assistance from Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister and its citizens has and continues to provide the support that is so necessary at this time. We urge all organisations and individuals to disregard the ‘stories' we are hearing about the mismanagement and pilfering and continue their efforts to provide any form of aid they can.

Our Caribbean Men's Health Study raffle dip's winner was identified. Congratulations and many thanks for your participation. We are pleased to inform you that your Cash Prize will be sent to you shortly.

The Caribbean Men's Health Survey has had some success. As such, the Caribbean Drug Abuse Research Institute (CDARI) has agreed to another Raffle Dip of US $100.00, to be drawn on the 15 th December '04. This Online Caribbean Men's Health Survey can be accessed at our Website; we will also accept posted forms from the hardcopy version published in the PRIDE '04 edition.

In this edition we have been able to expand our MSM programming in which our newsletter's regional content and information will include other sexually active groups. This serves as a broader MSM outreach HIV/AIDS and STI policy by providing information to each of the identified groups with whom MSM are, or could be sexually active with : Heterosexual – Bisexual; Homosexual – Lesbian ; and Elderly – Youth.

As such, the majority of material in this edition targets women's health and social issues as part of the thematic outline identified for World AIDS Day '04 – Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS. We have also done this as a call into action of our MSM communities. Though there may be some concern as to why an MSM programme sees it necessary to include women, one should be mindful that we all have some alliance with this gender.

We all have mothers, sisters, aunts and nieces. Some of us had or have girlfriends, wives and daughters. And if we are to realistically look at ourselves we need to be aware of their concerns. The questions we need to ask ourselves are what would happen if, any of those persons were diagnosed HIV positive. What can we do to assist them? Are we capable of providing care and support for them? What role can we play with the knowledge that we as a marginalised community that has first hand experience of this pandemic? The fact is that from our experiences, we are more than capable and can serve to help others outside our community or gender.

Our website's format is currently expanding to provide new health and social features. In addition there will be regular updates and over a period of time we will be providing confidential online information, counselling and referral services.

We have been fortunate to secure an annual contract with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and through this grant have been able to ensure a small but significant increase of our regional circulation with our partners. The Alliance has continued to validate its efforts that support the development of regional MSM initiatives by conducting two workshops, between the periods June – October, with members of their nine country partners.

The National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) has agreed to a pilot national newsletter programme in which an average of thirty-two NGOs, CBOs and FBOs will receive this edition as part of their HIV/AIDS information, education and communications (IEC) initiatives. With their support and cooperation to track, assess and monitor the newsletter's national impact, there is the opportunity to renew this contract for the period January – June '05 with the NACC.

Finally, we at MSMNPA wish all of our regional partners and associates success in your World AIDS Day '04 activities.

Best Regards,

Voice of MSM Communities in the Caribbean
Dennis James -DENI Project Director MSM: No Political Agenda
#1, First Avenue Cascade Trinidad & Tobago
Tel: 1 (868) 624 0150 / 685 0555
Email: office@msmnpa.org office@msmnpa.org
Website: www.msmnpa.org
Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/msm_nopoliticalagenda

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