AIDS team discusses
its plans for this year
PHILIPSBURG--The HIV/AIDS plan of action for 2008 was among the items discussed when the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Team (HCT) held its first meeting at Sector Health Care Affairs (SHCA) on Wednesday, February 6.
The team comprises HIV/AIDS coordinators/Focal Points of key government departments and non-governmental organisations, including faith-based organizations.
Among the topics discussed during the meeting were the consolidated work plan for 2008, coordinator evaluations, coordinator reports, and an update on the [RED] Campaign.
The meeting was opened by HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton, who briefly welcomed the coordinators to the meeting and went over the agenda. During the meeting, Moses-Burton also encouraged the coordinators to look into attending the International HIV/AIDS Conference, which will be held in Mexico this year during the early part of August.
There are 20 members on the HCT, representing the government Department of Economic Affairs; St. Maarten Tourism Bureau; Education Department; Constitutional Affairs Department; Labour Department; Women’s Desk; Personnel and Organisation Department; Finance Department; Legal Affairs Department; Police Affairs Department; and Sector Health Care Affairs.
Other key sectors are Faith-Based Organisations, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Community-Based Organisations, Youth, and Private Sector, to name a few.
The HCT’s aim, it was stated in press release, is to promote an inclusive approach allowing all stakeholders to have an input in the implementation of the plan and foster a sense of ownership.
“It is also responsible for ensuring that the views of all stakeholders are articulated through their representation as well as overseeing the coordination and implementation of activities of the various implementing agencies,” the release stated.
Said Moses-Burton: “It has been one year since the official appointment of HIV/AIDS Coordinators within the various Government departments by the Executive Council. Because this is another new effort to increase the involvement of the various sectors, we felt it was important to conduct an evaluation of the process at this point.
“The evaluation will help us to determine what the strengths of having coordinators has been, as well as give the coordinators an opportunity to provide us with feedback about their experience over the year so that we can better determine how to move forward.”
