Global body for AIDS donates $123 Million to Jamaica’s health ministry

During a courtesy call with State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Caribbean Regional Director for the AHF, Dr. Kevin Harvey, said the money is a symbol of his agency’s continued commitment to the HIV programme in Jamaica.

He said each year, the AHF provides approximately US$2.5 million to Jamaica for HIV interventions.

“Most of those funds goes to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to support the regional health authorities with their HIV interventions and provisions for their clinics. The rest goes to funding our own interventions including our clinics as well as other smaller agencies that provide support and care for persons living with HIV and AIDS,” Dr. Harvey explained.

He said during the pandemic the MOHW and the regional health authorities did very well to maintain care and the overall programme grew since 2021.

Meanwhile, in recognition of International Women’s Day 2022, Dr. Harvey also indicated that the AHF is seeking to provide more support to initiatives that cater to women in violent domestic situations. “We would like to assist with the operational costs for shelters that serve the needs of women in these situations,” he explained.

He added that interventions and support are already provided to young women and teenaged girls through Girls Act – the AHF’s programme that focuses on the wellbeing of young women and men as well as girls and boys.

Minister Cuthbert thanked the AHF for its continued support and said she looks forward to more interventions for girls, but especially boys who are often times left out of the loop.

“I’ve done outreach in the past with orphaned children and things that we tend to take for granted like visiting the park and going to the movies are things that give them joy. I am looking forward to doing more for these children to enrich their lives,” she said.