Maginley calls for leadership in AIDS fight

none 14 Dec 2007 – 12:53

by Natalie Siniora

Antigua and Barbuda is presently hosting a workshop geared at building capacity among vulnerable groups in particular in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The workshop is being hosted at the Jolly Beach Resort until tomorrow and represents a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS and World AIDS Campaign.

The theme is, “Leadership: It all about Universal Access Capacity Building.”

The workshop, according to a press release, “brings together key civil society groups from Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, including national networks of people living with HIV, vulnerable groups such as men who have sex with men and those involved with challenging stigma and discrimination, to increase their power as advocates and agents of change.”

Concrete ways to exercise meaningful leadership of the AIDS response and the process of attaining Universal Access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 were fully examined during the opening ceremony.

Health Minister John Maginley in delivering his keynote address said what was required was a strong and vibrant civil society, especially for those people living with HIV and vulnerable groups, to really take the lead on engaging partners in arriving at Universal Access.

Maginley, noting that leadership took prominence at the World AIDS Day observation in Antigua and Barbuda, reminded the audience of the targets set and especially the promise of Universal Access of HIV treatment, care and support and prevention.

He said since the beginning of the epidemic, it has been clearly shown that the most significant advances in the response to HIV have been where there is strong leadership. He said leadership is needed in government so that adequate resources are allocated. He further urged for greater collaboration and networking among government ministries and civil partners.

Herman Myers of the Three H Network in Antigua and Barbuda said that this workshop will not only enhance civil society’s capacity to address stigma, discrimination, and human rights to achieve Universal Access by 2010 but it will also explore a common civil society regional advocacy agenda for campaigning.

UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Barbados & Eastern Caribbean Reeta Bhatia, who was also at the opening ceremony, said that stigma and discrimination remains major barriers in achieving Universal Access

She noted that AIDS remains the leading cause of death in the world and is advising individuals to protects themselves.

The workshop will look at strategies outlined in the new UNAIDS resource tool Reducing HIV Stigma and Discrimination: a critical part of national AIDS programmes.

There will also be an emphasis on accountability, not only in terms of civil society groups holding partners accountable for the success of the response, but also holding themselves accountable for using their influence to make a difference.

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