CRN+ - Annual Report 2006

Annual Report 2006

Country Reports: October 2005 - September 2006

Grenada - Hope-Pals Network Mission Statement To facilitate an acceptable and attainable standard of living in a positive and productive environment for persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), through hope help and empowerment. Vision Hope-Pals Foundation, now called Hope-Pals Network, is the authentic voice of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique . As a full and equal partner in the collaborative fight against HIV/AIDS, Hope-Pals Network is driven by PLWHA making a meaningful difference to their lives. Funding To achieve its goal the Network has been supported by the following funders to implement its activities since the official commissioning of the office in August, 2003: CARICOM/EU: Strengthening the Institutional Response to HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the Caribbean (SIRHASC) TIDES Collaborative Fund: Treatment Preparedness International HIV/AIDS Alliance Caribbean Office/ USAID: Community Outreach In an effort to execute our activities we have also been supported with human and technical resources by several partners and stakeholders, including: The Grenada Red Cross The National Infectious Disease Control Unit (NIDCU) The World Bank St George's University The Grenada Food and Nutrition Council The US Peace Corps PANCAPP/CARICOM/European Union Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CRN+) Increased competition for limited funds available for HIV/AIDS-related work due to increased sero-positive networks being formed in the region as well as the strong focus of many funding agencies on clinical management of the epidemic - as opposed to meeting basic needs for food, clothing and shelter - continue to pose a challenge to the mobilisation of resources to meet the needs of Hope-Pals' membership. Activities October 2005 CRN+ 9th Annual General Meeting and Capacity Building Workshop was held in Grenada at the Grenadian at Rex Resorts. As a member network of CRN+, Hope-Pals was responsible for in-country logistical arrangements for the Meeting. November 2005 A three day workshop was held on Treatment Preparedness and Stigma and Discrimination. On Day One a panel of four examined the topics from a medical, legal and human rights perspective. On Day Two the issues discussed were self esteem and assertiveness and on Day Three we looked at advocacy in action where participants were given the opportunity to act out real life situations. The month of November ended with a support group meeting where the Constitution of Hope-Pals Network was examined and revised.
December 2005 On World AIDS Day one member publicly disclosed his status and participated in live radio and television talk shows with the Minister of Health and a famous local cricketer, Mr Rawle Lewis, to discuss issues around living with HIV/AIDS. The final support group meeting for the year was convened together with an end of year social gathering. An end of year review of the treatment
	Hope-Pals Booth on Fisherman's Day 2006
preparedness project was conducted at that time. Representatives of Hope-Pals participated in a Walk for Life around the city with health officials, school children members of the general public and the National AIDS Council, the Grenada Red Cross Society and caregivers of PLWHA. This climaxed with a short ceremony and a feature address from the Minister of Health. January 2006 The year began with a Programme Design management workshop which was organised and facilitated by the US Peace Corps. A Hope-Pals representative attended the meeting. Two support group meetings were conducted under the Treatment Preparedness Project with specific focus on advocacy and ways to improve one's quality of life. February 2006 Several members participated in workshops and trainings as follows: Sensitisation training for legal service providers, which took place in St. Vincent and was coordinated and facilitated by PANCAP with legal support from the Canadian Legal Health Network A workshop on Behaviour Change Communication, which was conducted by the US Peace Corps Sub-regional Consultation on Universal Access to Care and Treatment, St. Lucia . March 2006 A representative of Hope-Pals attended PANCAP's Training of Trainers - Resource Persons for Law, Ethics and Human Rights in Guyana . Hope-Pals was also represented at the HIV/AIDS Programme Management training in Guyana and at a Regional Consultation on Universal Access to Care and Treatment which was conducted in Jamaica. During the month of March, Hope-Pals held one support group meeting and a three-day workshop titled “How Can Treatment Preparedness Really Improve the Quality of Our Lives?” This workshop focussed on PLWHA peer-support through Hope-Pals self-esteem, counselling, stigma and discrimination and advocacy. In addition, participants were informed on how to become Board Members and on Hope-Pals' electoral process. April 2006 In April 2006 the 3 rd Annual General Meeting of the Network was held and a new Board was elected. The results were as follows: Mr. Benjamin Albert James – President Mr. Errol Romain – Vice-President Mr. Aden Akins – Public Relations Officer Mr Basil Morgan – Technical Adviser Ms. Rachel S. Charles – Executive Director Ms. Hilary Paul – Secretary (resigned) Mr. Stephen Vincent – Treasurer Ms. Rachael Patrice and Mr. Andrew Lewis – Floor Members. The IHAA-funded Home Care, Community Outreach, IEC and Nutritional Support project, which terminates in September 2006, was continued and a brochure on issues related to treatment preparedness for PLWHA was produced. May 2006 Workshops attended by Hope-Pals representatives included: Voluntary Counselling and Testing (Grenada), a Technical Assistance workshop was conducted by the Tides Foundation (Jamaica), an Advocacy and Policy Development workshop supported by Crown Counsel and Union Representative, Mrs Barbra Fraser (Jamaica), and an AIDS in the Workplace Meeting. Hope-Pals was also involved in a mid-term review on the status of the World Bank-funded HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme in Grenada. June 2006 Hope-Pals had a booth at the Fisherman's Birthday exposition where IEC materials were distributed. The Network facilitated workshops on stigma and discrimination at two secondary schools in Carriacou and a focus group discussion was held with Consultant, Mrs Valerie Gordon Cornwall, to look at issue of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in the workplace. A meeting was convened with Mrs. Carolyn Alexis Thomas, new and incoming Director of the National AIDS Directorate, to formalise the partnership between Hope-Pals and the Directorate. Workshops attended included the OECS/RCM Global Fund meeting to draft a legal framework document aimed at the delivery of services in the OECS member states (St. Lucia ) and a peer treatment workshop (Trinidad ). July 2006 A peer treatment workshop was conducted for the members of Hope-Pals, in collaboration with CRN+ and the IHAA. Meetings attended included a stakeholder meeting with the US Peace Corps to asses the status of its partnership with Hope-Pals and the performance of a new Peace Corps Volunteer, a workshop with health care providers, including pharmacists to update them on the perceptions, and challenges expressed by PLWHA with respect to treatment and recommendations identified, and the second sensitisation training for legal service providers in the Caribbean (St. Vincent). August 2006 Hope-Pals disseminated IEC material and condoms around St. George's and at Carnival activities. Meetings attended included a technical corporation meeting between the OECS and Brazil to look at a merger between both parties to source ARVs from Brazil and a meeting of the Community Review Panel For Treatment Preparedness. September 2006 Hope-Pals was represented at a meeting with the Global Fund {OECS/RCM} and the World Bank Review Team to asses the status of the programme in phase one and to develop a plan for phase two of the Global Fund. Other In addition to the above-mentioned activities, Hope-Pals has been attending monthly meetings of the National AIDS Council and the HYP (“How Yuh Playin Safe, Sensitive Secure I know”) C ommittee which comprises stakeholders from all segments of the population to develop a National Campaign on HIV/AIDS which runs from Carnival 2006 through to World AIDS Day 2006 and 2007 World Cup Cricket. With respect to communication, Hope-Pals has developed a communication strategy for the production and dissemination of a quarterly newsletter (the newsletter had been previously produced semi-annually) and has produced and distributed information, including a brochure on the Network. Challenges Hope-Pals currently faces the following challenges: Dependency syndrome amongst members since the increased provision of nutritional support, which is being provided by partners Sustainability of the Network Unwillingness of members to attend and participate in stakeholders meetings and support group meetings unless there is a stipend and/or other forms of remuneration The absence of a fundraising strategy Complacency of members of the network with respect to finding ways of accessing the monies which are available in-country through Global Fund, World Bank and other initiatives.