Caribbean soca artistes who competed in the recent International Soca Monarch finals in Trinidad and Tobago are being targeted to help in teaching HIV/AIDS prevention in the region.
Roger Samuel, minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago made the announcement when he delivered the feature address at the recent regional consultation for the Caribbean Universal Access to HIV Prevention Treatment Care and Support help at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.
He said primary school children and teenagers would be a main focus for education in the deadly disease.
Samuel said strong meaningful relationships must be forged among civil society, the business sector, the youth and all other branches of society to develop sustainable methods of prevention and care.
The consultation was held to shape the future HIV programming not only in the Caribbean but globally.
UNAIDS had invited 16 countries to take part in the consultation to prepare the English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking Caribbean as a block.
Director of UNAIDS Caribbean Dr. Ernest Massiah in underscoring the importance of the Caribbean Consultation said, “This is an opportunity for the Caribbean to position itself in the world. If we don’t get our act together the Caribbean will not have a voice when the future of the global AIDS response is determined.”
Sam Condor, deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister of St. Kitts and Nevis attended the consultation.
