Health Policy Project

The Health Policy Project ended in 2016. Work continued under Health Policy Plus (HP+) until 2022.

Caribbean Region

 

 

Overview

With an estimated 260,000 people living with HIV, the Caribbean region has some of the highest HIV prevalence levels in the world, particularly among key populations at higher risk, including sex workers and men who have sex with men. Stigma and discrimination are widely recognized as undermining efforts to prevent the spread of HIV and pose crucial barriers to accessing care and treatment services, particularly for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), as well as key populations at most risk for HIV. Persons from populations with high prevalence levels of HIV will not benefit from these life-saving services if they are denied access to them, are afraid to seek them, or experience stigma or discrimination when trying to access them.

There have been many programs addressing stigma and discrimination in the Caribbean region in an ad hoc manner. As external funding for HIV is reduced, it is a critical to assist key regional and national partners to strengthen their capacity to carry out more effective programs with the limited resources at hand. The gains made will not be lost and momentum towards an enabling environment for access to care treatment and support services lost without concerted comprehensive efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination and provide for health for all.

What We Do

The Health Policy Project (HPP) provides technical support to the stigma and discrimination program of the Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) and affiliated regional implementing partners. HPP aims to improve regional coordination and communication about efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The program also works to expand access to non-stigmatizing health services and strengthen the capacity of PLHIV and key populations at higher risk to advocate for improved HIV programs, with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination.

HPP works with PANCAP in the development and rollout of the PANCAP Stigma Framework for HIV and AIDS, a guide for Caribbean nations to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination, as well as in the finalization of operational guidelines for the Regional Model Code of Practice for Psycho-Social Practitioners in HIV & AIDS Care.

Improve Coordination and Communication on HIV

HPP supports HIV policy dialogue and consultations at both national and community levels to develop a common regional advocacy agenda for addressing stigma and discrimination. In Dominica, we are working to help facilitate the development of a national HIV policy. HPP also supports community consultations in St. Kitts and Nevis on the “Equality for All” campaign to ensure equitable access to HIV-related health services and promote human rights of all persons living in St. Kitts and Nevis regardless of health status or any other perceived differences.  

Improve Access to Non-Stigmatizing Health Services

Image of participants in workshop to learn about reducing stigma in healthcare facilities.
Participants in workshop learn about reducing stigma in healthcare facilities.

HPP activities support partners in implementing a code of practice for HIV-related stigma reduction in healthcare settings and links to social services, helping PLHIV and other key populations at higher risk obtain the high-quality health services they need. We work with partners to help train healthcare facility workers in reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and build skills for community outreach. HPP also supports mentoring of community-based organization leadership and outreach, including faith-based organizations.

Strengthen Capacity of PLHIV and Key Populations in Evidence-Based Advocacy

HPP facilitates networking among PLHIV groups and strengthens their capacity in evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue. HPP also supports regional civil society networks to come together to share information and to develop a common regional advocacy agenda for addressing stigma and discrimination.

Publications and Resources

Building Leadership in the HIV Response in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Getting to “Stigma-Free” HIV Services in St. Kitts and Nevis: Rolling-Out an Intervention Package for Health Facilities

Getting to “Stigma-Free” HIV Services in St. Kitts and Nevis: Survey Results

Understanding and Challenging HIV and Key Population Stigma and Discrimination: Caribbean Facilitator's Guide

PANCAP Stigma Reduction Framework for HIV and AIDS: National Actions to Reduce HIV-Related Stigma & Discrimination and Improve Health Outcomes

Video: State of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean (PANCAP) 

News

Health Policy Project Supports “Equality for All” Campaign in the Caribbean

Partners

  • Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS (PANCAP)
  • Dominica National HIV/AIDS Response Program
  • St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Health National AIDS Program
  • Caribbean HIV and AIDS Alliance
  • PANCAP Regional Stigma and Discrimination Unit
  • UNAIDS Caribbean Support Team
  • Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network
   RSS Feed
About
Our Work
How We Help
Partners
Our Team
Contact
What We Do
FP/RH
HIV
Maternal Health
All Topics
Countries
AFR Region
AME Region
E&E Region
LAC Region
Resources
Publications
Software and Models
eLearning
News
Links
User Info
Privacy Policy
RSS
Site Map
Staff Intranet
USAID Logo
The Health Policy Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-10-00067, beginning September 30, 2010. The project's HIV-related activities are supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It is implemented by Futures Group, in collaboration with Plan International USA, Avenir Health (previously Futures Institute), Partners in Population and Development, Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), RTI International, and White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA). The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.

Copyright © 2011 Futures Group. All Rights Reserved.2021,0,17,330334