THE NATIONAL AIDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
In March 2004, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago launched its five (5) year National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2004-2008 outlining the country’s comprehensive and expanded response to HIV and AIDS. The Plan seeks to strengthen the on-going effects and mobilize the work of new partners in such a way that activities are coordinated and prioritized. The goals of the response are to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and to mitigate the negative impact of the epidemic on persons infected and affected in Trinidad and Tobago.
The National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) is mandated to coordinate the overall strategic response to the epidemic. The NSP focuses on five priority areas: Prevention, Treatment Care & Support, Advocacy & Human Rights, Surveillance & Research, and Programme Management, Coordination & Evaluation. The Treatment, Support and Care priority area focuses on providing appropriate treatment and care to persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), including the administration of anti-retroviral drug therapy free of charge.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to the fulfilling of three broad objectives for Treatment, Care and Support. They are:
Our Ministry of Health serves as the primary body for implementing the Treatment and Care component of the National Strategic Plan. As a result of meetings held between the NACC and the Ministry of Health, Consultant Dr. Violet Forsythe-Duke was hired to coordinate the implementation of the Ministry’s Sector Plan for HIV/AIDS. This plan was officially launched in September 2004. Prior to the launch, meetings were held with the administrators from the Regional Health Authorities to share with them the various components of the plan and to ascertain their input for its successful implementation.
In October 2004, the Ministry of Health initiated a partnership with Pfizer Inc. to access free Difuclan for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Difuclan is used to treat fungal opportunistic infections in the people who have AIDS. This partnership also included the training of physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections.
Efforts are also focused on creating a supportive environment for the care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS. In this regard, the NACC is working with NGOs such as TTHAA, CARITAS, and CARe to build the capacity for home-based care. There are also avenues for the NACC to provide assistance to support groups of people living with HIV/AIDS, to help improve counselling and to reduce vulnerability. There have been opportunities for training health care professionals in the clinical management of HIV/AIDS through local, regional, and international workshops and conferences.
Treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS is conducted at the Medical Research Foundation in Port of Spain, Ward 2 San Fernando General Hospital, the Children’s Unit at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), the Cyril Ross Nursery for children, the Pediatric Unit at the Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago, and the Health Promotion Clinic in Tobago. Currently there are over 2,880 adults and children in Treatment and Care of which 1,640 are receiving anti-retroviral treatment.
The NACC is committed to meeting the goals of the NSP and providing support to the NGO/CBO/FBO community. Through a World Bank Loan, the NACC has bean able to support the efforts of several non-governmental organizations, including MSM: No Political Agenda, in the form of grant funds, office supplies, computer and multi-media equipment, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, condoms, technical support services, and in providing links between NGOs and the private sector. Assistance to the NGO community from April 2004 to September 2005 has thus far exceeded TT$3,000,000.
With many challenges and much work ahead of us, the NACC is grateful for the growing support for a comprehensive national HIV response from all sectors, including the religious community, trade unions, youth groups, businesses, the media, and community organizations including those representing men who have sex with men.
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