HIV/AIDS must be fought at highest political level in the Caribbean

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 1ST 2013 (CUOPM) – The fight against HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean must be fought at the highest political level.

So says St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and the regional spokesman on health issues.

“I believe that in the continuing fight against HIV/AIDS, there has to be the highest political support given if we are to continue to manage this pandemic that seriously affects the Caribbean region,” said Douglas, who has a medical degree from the University of the West Indies.

“Over the years, we in the Caribbean have developed the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS, which has been identified by the United Nations as an international model that can be replicated by other regions of the world,” Dr. Douglas said recently in Toronto.

“UNAIDS is concerned that the level of financing that the fight against HIV/AIDS is attracting is declining, so I am going to Vancouver to join other political leaders and those working in the fight against the pandemic to look at new initiatives to be pursued,” reported Share, Canada’s largest ethnic newspaper.

Prime Minister Douglas stopped over in Toronto on his way to the third International HIV Treatment as Prevention Workshop in Vancouver.