HIV and AIDS Advocacy in the Caribbean

HIV and AIDS is a significant threat in the Caribbean. Since the late 1990s, HHD has worked intensively throughout this region to promote health, with a focus on HIV and AIDS prevention.

Along with promoting the healthy development of youth through skills-based health education, HHD has worked collaboratively with international and local partner organizations on a major advocacy effort to reduce stigma and encourage policy and program change throughout the education systems in the region. We trained 36 local leaders to use their influence and expertise to persuade the education sector to strengthen its response to HIV and AIDS. HHD also provided a forum for these advocates to meet with senior level administrators, primarily from the Ministries of Education in Caribbean countries.

With support from the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office for the Caribbean and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, this campaign helped to reduce stigma among key influential people and encouraged ministers to engage in dialogue around the need and importance of developing a comprehensive approach to promote health and mitigate the impact of the AIDS epidemic.