The original article can be found in: Jamaica Observer BY COREY ROBINSON
BEDEVILLED by the crippling effects of HIV/AIDS on national development, the Government of Jamaica has implemented a ‘One Authority for Sexual Reproductive Health’ to help stymie the pandemic.
The disclosure was made by Health Minister Fenton Ferguson who described the body as a synergy between the National Family Planning Board (NFPB) and the National HIV Programme (NHP).
“This initiative addresses the issue of the absence of one clearly identifiable AIDS Authority,” said Ferguson.
“We see this as a synergistic integration. The Authority will have a broad based multi-sector mandate to continue ensuring efficient and effective country-level response to HIV. The National Family Planning Board will now have legal status and a legal mandate to manage and co-ordinate the national programme,” he continued.
Ferguson said that the policies of both the NFPB and the NHP are compatible as both focus on the safe and responsible sexual practices with HIV prevention and family planning as components of reproductive health.
He said that the formation of the new entity will promote one of the key strategies outlined in Jamaica’s Vision 2030 national development plan.
Ferguson was speaking last Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the Global Validation and Lessons Learned Workshop of Support for Gender Equality in the context of HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, Dr Arun Kashyap, UN resident co-ordinator/ UNDP resident representative to Jamaica, said that effectively battling HIV/AIDS will take much effort from people in leadership.
“Leadership takes many forms. It is not unique to political leaders,” he said, noting that all citizens have a part to play in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.
