U.S. Embassy Kingston is currently hosting a senior technical team from the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), headquartered in Washington DC, for a week-long series of discussions on HIV/AIDS programs in Jamaica. With funding support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR), the OGAC Team will examine the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and U.S. Government agencies represented at the Embassy, with the view to refocus and restructure HIV/AIDS program funding in the island and throughout the region.

The OGAC team will assist the Jamaican government in focusing its HIV programs on prioritized populations, to ensure PEPFAR activities are strategically designed for affected key populations.

An opening ceremony was held on October 6, 2014, to mark the start of the week-long series of meetings. Presentations were made by the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Elizabeth Lee Martinez and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kevin Harvey.

In her opening remarks as chair of the opening ceremony Mrs. Martinez reinforced the importance of the team’s visit, and the need for a solid partnership between Jamaica and the United States. “The hallmark of all our efforts is to deliver an AIDS-free generation through three pillars:  accountability, transparency and impact.  This also means demonstrating cost-effective programming, maximizing the impact of every dollar invested, demonstrating increased transparency, and also validating our work through data-driven means.”

The Chargé also asserted that “PEPFAR is seeking to support sustained control of the epidemic, saving lives and averting new infections.”  U.S. Government Agencies participating in the meetings include United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Peace Corp, the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local NGOs and health care providers.

PEPFAR is the U.S. Government’s initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally. PEPFAR is driven by a shared responsibility among donors and partner nations to make smart investments to save lives.

Regards,