| Women who are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),Jerseys From China Online, are drug addicts and are homeless should be able to access treatment just as any other person, a notion which for the past several years has been highlighted by the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) Coalition.CVC is a coalition of organisations and individuals working in rights-based HIV prevention, care, treatment and support in the Creole,Wholesale Jerseys Online, Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking Caribbean, from Belize in the northwest to Suriname in the southeast.Several members of the group during the launch yesterdayIt was formed at a meeting of civil society groups from around the region held in Jamaica in December 2004 and was created to fill a gap in the regional response to the HIV epidemic.And to further emphasise its intention, the coalition, which has members from various parts of the Caribbean, yesterday launched a venture called ‘Access to Treatment Day’ which, according to Group Manager,Cheap Jerseys Online, Ian McKnight, will be observed today in Belize,NFL Jerseys China Online, Guyana, Jamaica,Cheap Jerseys From China Online, Curacao and St Lucia.According to him, the identified vulnerable group of women that the coalition is targeting is an underserved population because of the fact that they are mostly unreachable.“People see them as mobile; you can’t find them; you can’t give them treatment; they are here today and gone tomorrow. What we are saying is that that does not have to happen…that you can design specific interventions that will reach them that will go to them instead of asking them to come to us in a clinic setting like other populations.”But according to McKnight, the venture also urgently requires the support of the governments of the region, stressing that it is time that government “wake up” and help to address the situation.The coalition operates in collaboration with the Caribbean Treatment Action Group (CTAG) made up of a group of HIV positive persons and their supporters from around the region tasked with lobbying for better access for treatment for infected people in the region.CTAG, according to McKnight, comprises people with strong expertise in HIV/AIDS treatment and related issues who work in and for the community in their own countries.The programme consists of two main strategies: one being advocacy for access to HIV/AIDS related care, treatment and support for all who need it in the Caribbean.McKnight said that CTAG was formulated in October 2004 at a meeting in St Lucia where over 200 participants gathered to discuss the issues of access to treatment and support in the Caribbean.He noted that at that forum it was recognised that there was a big need for access for treatment for vulnerable populations and thus CTAG has since endeavoured to provide financial and technical support to all such groups in the region.And according to him,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, the programme has been able to reach significant amounts of vulnerable groups including grass root organisations doing work with women,Cheap NFL Jerseys Online, doing work with indigenous women, men who have sex with men, sex workers, children who are orphans as a result of HIV, and in this case women who are substance users and are HIV infected.“CTAG works through groups on the ground. Here in Guyana we already have groups doing work and are already implementing programmes and we give them support. Sometimes it’s financial, sometimes it’s technical,” McKnight disclosed.He further explained that CTAG has been advertising and has sent out invitation to all civil society organisations working in HIV to be a part of its efforts.Founder of Friends United in Berbice and local HIV/AIDS activist,China Jerseys Online, Chrystol Albert, has also embraced the work of CTAG, noting that the venture will undoubtedly have a positive impact in Guyana and the region at large.According to her, through CTAG a variety of services are offered to vulnerable groups such as those living with HIV/AIDS.“This is an open doorway for women especially to think of a positive direction…these women who are HIV positive and at the same time they are homeless…”The work of CTAG is funded by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, and according to Regional Coordinator Patricia Figueroa, grants amounting to US$180,000 have been recently approved to support regional wide initiatives in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana and Dominica.She disclosed that the funds will be specifically directed to the reduction of HIV stigma and discrimination, capacity building of marginalised groups, HIV treatment literacy, the training of human rights advocates, and the production of behaviour change communication materials. |
