THE United States Mission in Jamaica views its mandate to assist in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS as one of its highest priorities.

Through the Caribbean Regional PEPFAR programme, the US Mission has undertaken a robust multi-agency approach to tackling the disease, which has affected 1.7 per cent of the island’s general adult population. This regional programme forms part of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), implemented in 2003 to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world.

This historic programme demonstrates the US Government’s leadership in the global HIV/AIDS response, as it is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease internationally. PEPFAR is also the chief component of the US President’s Global Health Initiative.

In Jamaica, the multi-pronged approach assists in creating an AIDS-free generation globally. The efforts of six US agencies, namely, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Peace Corps, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Defence (DOD), Department of State (DOS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) continue to assist in saving lives, raising awareness and reducing stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Through effective partnerships with the Government of Jamaica and civil organisations, these agencies demonstrate the US Government’s theme for World AIDS Day 2013, ‘Shared responsibility — strengthening results for an AIDS-free Generation’.

USAID is providing support to the National HIV/STI Programme in bolstering its prevention programme, through funding of outreach officers who conduct testing among key populations, including, sex workers (SW), Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and Out of School Youth (OSY). An average of 1,400 rapid HIV tests are conducted monthly, within the South East Regional Health Authority’s jurisdiction.

In addition to assisting the Ministry of Health, USAID is providing technical assistance and financial support to a number of community-based organisations, which implement HIV prevention programmes targeting key populations.

The Healthy Policy Project (HPP) provides training and support in the area of behaviour change communication, to help improve the quality and range of services being offered. USAID is also working to address stigma, gender norms, and sexual and gender-based violence in relation to HIV prevention.

Through the Department of State, the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy administers the US ambassador’s PEPFAR Small Grants Programme. This programme is designed to fund projects that address stigma reduction and discrimination, with the intent to increase public awareness and lend assistance to existing or new community activities to combat HIV/AIDS.

The US ambassador leads the selection process of proposals submitted. The grants awarded to selected applicants are seen as an integral part of the US Government’s strategy to support community and non-governmental-based initiatives and promote discussion aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

Since 2011, a total of 11 grantees have benefitted from the ambassador’s PEPFAR Small Grant Programme, totalling US$106,505. PEPFAR funding for these recipients has supported the training of at least 1,000 HIV/AIDS community level advocates through faith-based organisations, NGOs, CBOs and quasi-government agencies.

This year’s grantees are the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons; Mustard Seed Communities; The National Council on Drug Abuse; Eve for Life; and BREDS The Treasure Beach Foundation. These organisations will conduct sensitisation seminars; provide counselling mediation and public education sessions aimed at reducing the stigma and discrimination among marginalised and at-risk populations affected by HIV/AIDS.

Through the PEPFAR Programme, Peace Corps recruits volunteer to build human, technical and institutional capacity to effectively develop, implement, scale-up and sustain comprehensive “combination” HIV prevention strategies that help address a broad range of factors contributing to HIV transmission.

The Volunteer Activities Support and Training (VAST) grant is a PEPFAR-funded grant administered by the Peace Corps and is available to volunteers working with community partners to address issues related to HIV.

Jamaica’s first VAST grant supported the Young Women Empowerment Convention and was completed in June, 2012. The project worked closely with seven organisations, including the Ministry of Education and the YWCA School Leavers Institute, to assist 135 young women between the ages of 15 and 24 whose social and economic status make them vulnerable to HIV.

The US Department of Defence HIV Prevention Programme (DHAPP), supported through PEPFAR, plays a critical role in assisting partner militaries in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic negatively affects many militaries worldwide by reducing military readiness and force protection, limiting deployments, causing physical and emotional decline in infected troops and their families, and impeding peacekeeping activities.

DHAPP works with two implementing partners: Population Services International/Caribbean (PSI/C) and Charles Drew University, to deliver peer education training and behaviour change communication messages, HIV voluntary testing and counselling services, support of HIV surveillance and risk behaviour surveys and strengthen the health system for partner militaries across the Caribbean, including the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

The overall goal of this project is to focus on the drivers of the epidemic specific to the JDF and address knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV prevention. Since 2009, DHAPP has implemented an evidence-based, culturally appropriate, military-specific HIV prevention programme for the JDF.

In 2012, the programme trained 35 peer educators and 25 JDF service members in voluntary counselling and testing (VCT). Of these, 23 qualified as VCT skill providers and contributed to 652 soldiers receiving VCT in 2012.

The CDC Caribbean Regional Office (CDC CRO) in contributing to the call for an AIDS-free generation has provided financial support to the Government of Jamaica for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Programme and the Positive Health Dignity and Prevention (PHDP) Programme. The CDC Caribbean Regional Office has also been working with the Government of Jamaica to strengthen its national laboratory network and laboratory services and systems.

April 2012 saw the achievement of a significant landmark at the University of the West Indies (UWI). The CHART Regional Co-ordinating Unit (RCU) received a five-year grant worth US$9 million from the US-based HRSA under PEPFAR. The HRSA, an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

The grant to UWI-CHART, which is being called ‘CHART II’, takes the form of a co-operative agreement with HRSA and is the first direct award from HRSA to an academic institution outside of the USA. UWI-CHART is also managing a grant from the CDC under which the Caribbean Health Leadership Institute (CHLI) is operated.

Ten years ago, AIDS threatened the foundation of societies, creating orphans and stalling economies. Today, as a result of the United States’s unwavering commitment, an AIDS-free generation is achievable. Globally, new HIV infections have declined nearly 33 per cent over the past decade, and AIDS-related mortality has decreased by 30 per cent since its peak in 2005.

In sub-Saharan Africa, progress has been even more dramatic, with new infections down by 33 per cent over the past decade, and AIDS-related mortality declining by 32 per cent since its peak in 2005. Notably, on June 18, at PEPFAR’s 10th anniversary celebrations, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that PEPFAR-supported programmes have enabled the one-millionth baby to be born HIV-free.

As we reflect on the profound impact PEPFAR has made in the lives of millions of people around the globe, and specifically in Jamaica, it is important to also think critically about where we are headed. We now know what we must do to achieve an AIDS-free generation, and together we can make it happen.

— Submitted by the United States Embassy in Jamaica