Moving forward on HIV Policy in the Caribbean

After a decade of discussion and delay, HIV policy development is gaining momentum all across the Caribbean. EDC is working hand-in-hand with ministries of education, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and regional groups to implement more rapid change according to EDC Caribbean program coordinator Arlene Husbands.

“Since early this year, we’ve been working in collaboration with CARICOM Global Fund Project on a strategic regional approach,” Husbands says, “called Fighting HIV in the Caribbean.”

The first regional proposal funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Husband’s program is one of seven sub-recipients, the prime recipient being the CARICOM /Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS. As part of the roll out of project activities, EDC hired two regional consultants and a part time project assistant, to add to capacity in the Caribbean.

A native of Barbados, Husbands returned to her homeland in 1999 to work in the field of HIV and AIDS. She has been with EDC for three years and is currently focusing on HIV policy development and implementation across the Caribbean. Most recently, Husband facilitated a three-day Regional HIV Policy Development Training-of-Trainers Workshop in rapid policy development for the Ministry of Education HIVFocal Points and Health & Family Life Coordinators from six countries (Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent & Grenadines, and Suriname).

“To develop HIV policy for the education sector, we are seeking to integrate HIV into already existing education-sector policies and address HIV together with other health issues,” says Husbands. “This approach offers broader collaboration and best use of both human and financial resources, as opposed to a stand-alone policy.”

“We’re making strides in moving policy from discussions to being adopted, but it takes time,” says Husbands. “Attitudes have changed, but there still remains work to be done. Teachers need to be adequately trained in the delivery of sexuality and sexual health as part of their teachers college education and as part of ongoing professional development.”

This fall, Husbands and her team completed baseline surveys that examined the barriers to implementing life-skills based HIV education in ten Caribbean nation school systems. “This will give us more information about the barriers that countries are facing,” she says, “and help us build a better strategy.”

In November 2011, at the Caribbean HIV Conference in Nassua, Bahamas, findings of the baseline survey will be presented as a poster discussion. Additionally, Husbands and Dr. Carmen Aldinger, HHD Global Programs associate Center director, will co-facilitate two skill-building workshops: (1) Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of a Comprehensive Caribbean Education Sector Response to HIV and AIDS; (2) Capacity Building for Applying the Principles of the Greater Involvement of People Living With and Affected by HIV and AIDS in the Education Sector. These will be presented in collaboration with UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office, Jamaica.

“People on the ground know what needs to be done,” Husbands says. “We’re here to help.”