Commander Patrick Wallace and Lt. Dr. Vance Gilbert attend Mozambique conference
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 31ST 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis was represented at the 2012 International Military HIV/AIDS Conference was held at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre, Maputo, Mozambique.
St. Kitts and Nevis was represented by Lt. Colonel Patrick Wallace, Commander of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and Lieutenant Dr. Vance Gilbert, the Force HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator.
 |
| Lt. Dr. Vance Gilbert (left) and Commander Lt. Colonel Patrick Wallace (second from the left) |
The Conference had as its theme “Re-Energizing HIV Campaigns” and brought together international military leadership and HIV/AIDS specialists, multi-lateral organisations and non-governmental organisations and academics to share best practices in leadership, HIV prevention and care and treatment.
Over seventy seven (77) countries from around the world attended with Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis representing CARICOM/RSS member states.
The objectives of the Conference were to highlight the role of leadership in successful military HIV/AIDS programmes, emphasize the best military health systems practices in HIV prevention, care, treatment and strategic information, facilitate military to military technical assistance, networking and partnerships and consolidate advances in military medical HIV programmes to support an agile, effective and sustainable response to the epidemic.
“These objectives were met through plenary presentations interactive discussions sessions and a poster session. The SKNDF delegation found the conference to be very informative and indeed it was a success,” said Commander Wallace.
Welcome remarks were from several dignitaries including President Armando Emilio Guebuza of Mozambique; Mr. Filipe Nyussi, Minister of Defence of Mozambique; Ambassador Leslie V. Rowe, United States Embassy, Mozambique and Major General Barbara J. Faulkenberry, United States African Command.