KINGSTON, Jamaica – Over the next three years, Jamaica should see an additional US$15 million being pumped into the National HIV/STI Programme to assist in reaching those most at risk of becoming HIV infected and those who are already infected.

Fund Portfolio Manager for the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Giulia Perrone made the announcement today at a press conference at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.

Following the announcement, the fund portfolio manager said over the next few days, the Global Fund along with other stakeholders will be working on developing an integrated plan so as to turn the approval into an actual grant, so the implementation process can begin in January, 2016. It will run until December, 2018.

She said the US$15 million was in addition to the US$66 million the Global Fund has disbursed to Jamaica since 2014.

“What made this day so special for me is that we are here with the USAID (United States Agency for International Development), which is one of our main partners in the fight against HIV, and that we are working together and that this partnership will be turned into action…” Perrone said. “We want to make sure that all our resources are well coordinated and we do not duplicate… and (we are able to) reach the highest number of people.

The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR) has also approved an investment of US$5 million for 2015/2016.

Perrone said the funds disbursed have provided vital support to the vulnerable population, which includes men who have sex with men and sex workers.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson thanked both the mission from the Global Fund that has been in the island since Thursday working through funding requirements and guidelines and USAID for their “consistent support of the national effort to fight the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among the Jamaican population”.

Anika Richards