Former United Nations Secretary-General Dr. Kofi Annan will address several Caribbean heads of government, high-level government officials, regional and international representatives of the partnership and other specially invited guests at the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS meeting later this month.
The meeting, to be held under the theme “Reflection and Renewal,” is set for Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in St. Maarten.
Addresses will also be given by key leaders in the region, including Sarah Westcott-Williams, prime minister, St. Maarten; Dr. Denzil Douglas prime minister, St. Kitts and Nevis and chair of PANCAP: Michael Sidibe, UNAIDS executive director; and Professor Michel Kazatchkine.
During the opening, CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington and Executive Director for the Global Fund Professor Kazatchkine will sign the PANCAP/Global Fund Round 9 Agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. PANCAP received $31 million from that initiative.
Titled, “PNCAP at Ten,” the first session of the meeting will explore the main factors that have contributed to the development, growth and sustainability of the partnership. It is intended to analyze critically main achievements, challenges and lessons learned.
PANCAP is a regional partnership, which was established in February 2001 to respond to HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean. Its vision is to substantially reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean through sustainable systems and universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Its goals are to reduce the estimated number of new infections by 25 percent by 2012.
