Stepping up the pace to get to 90-90-90

Understanding the importance of organizations such as United and Strong Inc and other civil society partners in stepping up the response towards  reaching the global commitment of 90-90-90 by 2020 and AIDS free generation by 2030 UNAIDS 90-90-90, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations conducted an HIV Rapid Testing training for a cadre of nine (9) HIV Rapid Testers.   United and Strong Inc, Advocacy Officer Mr. Bennet Charles being one of the newly trained testers saw this initiatives as a critical step in advancing the cause of the organisation as we seek to improve the quality or sexual reproductive health services to LGBTI persons in Saint Lucia.

Even more important is the fact that more than 50% of Saint Lucians don’t know there their HIV status along with the trend of increasing infections of HIV among men.  The availability of new HIV Rapid Testing providers along with an assertive approach to targeted community outreach, United and Strong Inc is optimistic that it will be even better position to meet the needs of members.  #Education#Acceptance#Love

Conducting HIV Rapid test on samples

Improved services for LGBTQI and vulnerabilised populations

(Castries, August 19, 2015) The absence or low level presence of interventions that target vulnerabilised populations has called for an enhancement in how United & Strong Inc. delivers its services. As the sole representative organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and intersex persons, U&S has responded by developing a project to address specifically healthcare and social services interventions.

In partnership with the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) and with funding from the MAC AIDS Fund, U&S engaged in a targeted project of training and outreach. Although targeted at the LGBTQI community, the project was positioned to impact the general public.

A major part of this project included the engagement of an outreach educator to meet the target audience in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning. Outreach educator Bennet Charles notes that the project has achieved success by meeting several of the expected outcomes. Charles says, “Such an initiative positions United and Strong as a more effective organisation in meeting the needs of its members, and reaching target populations that are usually missed or neglected by other national stakeholders. We acknowledge the obstacles that are beyond their control but also realise that one of the challenges is the willingness of educators within some of these national bodies and other service providers to work with these populations.”

Small group session

Training was held for youth advocates from the general pubic

Sensitising the general public to issues of vulnerabilised communities

Active learning

Over a period of several months the project saw the training of six peer and outreach educators. These individuals are now placed to directly engage the community in improving quality of life. Members of the LGBTQ community were also trained in HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) education and information sharing.

The project further established outreach education plans targeting hard to reach communities especially rural communities and other national hotspots (night clubs, etc.). These will continue in the medium to long term to reach more individuals and encourage positive sexual interactions.

Partnerships with the Ministry of Health’s Bureau of Health Education (BHE) and other national stakeholders were also improved under the project. Although already established, these relationships were enhanced with direct outreach to conduct education sessions targeting youth and other vulnerabilised populations. These partnerships were also instrumental in enhancing the delivery of targeted HIV and AIDS interventions to reach vulnerabilised populations. This is important due to the absence of intervention that should target these populations.

Another outcome expected to net results over the long term is the sexual health educational materials developed as part of the programme. Targeted at vulnerabilised/marginalised populations, the flyers focus on maintaining healthy sexual relations and improving sexual health as well as information on the services provided by the organisation. They are now part of the materials included in United and Strong’s outreach to the public and the LGBTQI community.

Charles notes that other long term impacts of the United and Strong, CVC/MAC AIDS partnership will be a greater empowerment of the LGBTQI community, particularly youth, and a reduction in the stigma and discrimination facing vulnerabilised populations. It further assists in Saint Lucia meeting the 90-90-90 targets for HIV reduction set by the UN and accepted by international community, including Saint Lucia.

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United and Strong (U&S) is the strongest and most vocal LGBTI representative organisation in the small island Caribbean and houses the eastern hub of the Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS) and the ILGA Women’s Secretariat. It executes local and regional human rights and advocacy based training for civil society and government as part of its mandate. Among its activities are distribution of safer sex commodities, empowerment, education and social activities.

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Contact: Bennet Charles, Outreach Educator
1 (758) 518 4504 / 450 0976
societyd@gmail.com

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Request for Proposal for the Provision of Principal Recipient Services:

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Global Fund Grant

2016-2018

(Thursday, 19 March 2015) At the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Health Ministers Meeting of October 2013, a mandate was given to the OECS Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) to submit a proposal to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria. Under the New Funding Model the OECS Countries are eligible to apply for funds totalling $US 5.3 Million for HIV and Tuberculosis. The application for the grant is being made through the OECS RCM which is located in Saint Lucia and is chaired by the Minister of Health, Hon. Alvina Reynolds. While only four of the countries (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines) are eligible for funding under this new model, the multi-country proposal will be expanded to include the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

The OECS RCM now invites organizations to submit proposals to be considered as a Principal Recipient (PR) for the Global Fund grant funds. The focus areas have already been defined in the proposal and we are looking to appoint a PR based on specific criteria, which include the strength of the proposed implementation programme and the capacity of the organisation to function as a PR according to Global Fund requirements.

Focus Areas and Proposed Activities

Module 1: Prevention Programmes for key affected populations including, MSM, SW and youth 

Including Activities such as:

• Conduct of Integrated Biological Behavioural Surveys (IBBS).

• Behavioural change as part of programs for key affected populations.
• HIV testing and counselling as part of programs for key affected populations.
• Diagnosis and treatment of STIs for key affected populations.
• Development and standardization of packages of prevention services for key affected populations.

Module 2: Treatment care and support

• Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
• Treatment monitoring
• Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections
• Counseling and psycho-social supportModule 3: TB/HIV Co-infection

• Ensure political commitment, funding and stewardship for planning and essential services of high quality
• Address the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups and address special needs of migrants and cross-border issues
• Undertake screening for active TB and LTBI in TB contacts and selected high-risk groups, and provide appropriate treatment
• Laboratory systems strengthening
• Module 4: Health Information Systems and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Roll out and implementation of case based surveillance system in the OECS
• Strengthen M&E and Research in the OECSThe roles and responsibilities of the PR will include the following:
•  

• Entering into a performance-based grant agreement with the Global Fund;
• Receiving and managing funds disbursed by the Global Fund;
• Entering into grant agreements with sub-recipients and disbursing funds to them;
• Managing the implementation of the programme or part thereof, co-ordination of grant participants and provision of technical leadership;
• Regular financial and programmatic progress reporting to the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM), the Global Fund and other national stakeholders; and
• Monitoring and evaluation and reporting of data to relevant national authorities.

 

Further information is available to assist in preparation of a comprehensive proposal, including proposal guidelines, minimum requirements for the principal recipient (pr), evaluation process, application schedule and timelines for the application process.

For details email oecsercm@gmail.com or call Joan Didier at +1(758) 518 7171.

 

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Contact:

Joan Didier

OECS RCM

1(758) 518 7171

Maria Fontenelle

OECS RCM

1(758) 461 6155