Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
Figueroa
Toronto, Canada:
The Ministry of Health's ambitious goal of achieving universal access to treatment, prevention and care, will depend on how much more funding the Jamaican Government is willing to commit to the National HIV/AIDS programme.
A five-year grant of US$22 million from the Global Fund, which now funds the majority of Jamaica's HIV prevention efforts, will expire in three years.
Dr. Peter Figueroa, head of the National HIV/STI programme, says the World Bank made a recent site visit to Jamaica to assess the country's eligibility for another loan.
Proof of commitment needed
However, Dr. Figueroa, who is part of a Jamaican delegation attending the 16th AIDS Conference on HIV/AIDS in Toronto, Canada, said the Jamaican Government has to prove to international donors that it is fully committed to fighting the epidemic before any additional funding will be granted.
"We are looking at the possibility of a follow-up loan with the World Bank. However, increasingly, for Jamaica to access international funding, the Government will have to show that it is committing (more of) its own resources in addressing the epidemic," Dr. Figueroa said.
Data from the National HIV/STI programme, indicates that between 2003 and 2005, the Government has spent just under US$5 million to slow down the epidemic and prevent new infections.
However, Dr. Figueroa said, in order to qualify for the World Bank loan, the Government would have to commit much more resources.
"The Government has to commit itself to establishing positions within the Ministry of Health and other government sectors for full-time staff to continue the HIV programme. We cannot depend only on project funding," he stated.
Dr. Figueroa is one of the few persons that have full-time positions with the National HIV/STI programme, as the majority of the staff are on short-term contracts.
He said a special study has been done which will guide the process, but noted that the Jamaican Government will face major challenges in creating those permanent positions.
"Jamaica is highly challenged when it comes to resources because of the tremendously high debt burden," he stated.
