The CHART Regional Coordinating Unit at UWI (UWI-CHART) hosted  a landmark meeting of Permanent Secretaries of  Ministries of Health from countries that are signatories to the US-Caribbean Regional HIV/AIDS Partnership Framework (PF), 2010-2014.The PF is the main implementing platform of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the CARICOM region. 
 
The primary purpose of the meeting was to outline the initiatives of the UWI-CHART and the CHART Network and to highlight two important changes in the direction and emphasis of CHART work plans, as agreed in consultation with the countries and with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which is the sponsor of a five-year grant (2012-2017) to UWI-CHART. 
 
The meeting was told that over the next three years, work plans would address strengthening of the entire health workforce (Human Resources for Health - HRH) in PF countries utilizing a competency-based approach to development and implementation of HRH policy formulation, planning and training.  CHART Network teams will continue to provide technical training partnerships with countries in support of their approach to decentralization of HIV care and treatment and integration of HIV programmes into primary health care.  Critical cross-cutting themes of “stigma and discrimination reduction” and “promotion of gender equality” will continue to be included in all CHART curricula, with special focus on the needs of key populations including men who have sex with men and sex workers. 
 
Of the 12 Permanent Secretaries who were invited to attend the meeting, six were in attendance representing Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Acting Chief Medical Officer of Jamaica, Dr. Kevin Harvey, represented the local Permanent Secretary.  Ms. Lisa Thompson represented the PEPFAR Caribbean Coordinator’s Office, while Ms. Megan Lincoln and Mr. John Hannay attended on behalf of HRSA.  Ms. Margareta Sköld and Dr. Kam Suan Mung represented the Pan-American Health Organization, which is one of the partners of CHART.
 
In addressing the opening session, UWI Vice-Chancellor Nigel Harris reaffirmed the commitment of UWI to CHART and other HIV-related programmes and thanked PEPFAR for its support to CHART. He pointed to an imminent leadership transition and introduced the newly designated Director of UWI-CHART to the group. Professor Brendan Bain outlined the history of the CHART Initiative and UWI-CHART staff and personnel from three CHART Network centres explained their work in a series of interactive presentations.
 
Key outcomes from the meeting included agreement to strengthen the communication process between Permanent Secretaries and UWI-CHART ‘s technical officers for the efficient implementation of initiatives, which include a regional mentoring programme, Quality Improvement for HIV Management and addressing psychosocial issues of persons infected with and affected by HIV.
 
The Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) of the Caribbean HIV/AIDs Regional Training (CHART) Initiative and was established at UWI in 2003 under the leadership of Professor Brendan Bain. The Unit has grown from a staff of two persons to a multi-disciplinary team of  technical and administrative staff supported by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Offices at the UWI Headquarters. In April 2012, the UWI-CHART became the Principal Recipient of a five-year cooperative agreement between UWI and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of the United States’ President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 
 
According to the UNAIDS Regional Fact Sheet 2012 for Latin America and the Caribbean, there were 230,000 Caribbean people living with HIV. Average adult prevalence rate in Caribbean countries in 2011 was about 1% which is higher than any other world region outside sub-Saharan Africa.
 
If you would like more information related to this article, please contact Elva Clarke at 1-876-977-2928 ext. 233 or e-mail at eclarke@chartcaribbean.org.