“I think the Ministry of Health is well placed to manage this area.
They have the competence and the capability to look at this from both a
treatment and prevention perspective,” the Prime Minister said.
Describing the issue as a serious one for Grenada, the Prime Minister
said his government will give whatever support is required in the fight
against the spread of HIV /AIDS. He expressed his appreciation to the
World Bank team of Willy de Geyndt, Principal Public Health Specialist
and Shiyan Chao, senior economist at the Department of Human
Development with responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean for
their support in fighting the disease.
PM greets World Bank's Willie de Geyndt
“Our young people and the working population are very much at risk.
HIV/AIDS will have an impact on our economies because of its effects on
the labour force and our young people,” the Prime Minister said.
The officials from the World Bank agreed with Prime Minister Thomas’
position that the efforts to fight the spread of the disease be
centralized, pointing to examples in several Caribbean islands
including many of the member states of the Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) of which Grenada is a member.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Sen. Hon. Ann Peters gave
the Prime Minister the assurance that the ministry is prepared to
accept the responsibility to become the lead body for coordinating the
anti HIV/AIDS efforts.
Only recently in a national address marking World AIDS Day the
Grenadian leader said his government is willing to “continue in the
struggle to ultimately stop and reverse the spread of HIV in Grenada.
This is more than just a desire; this is a pledged commitment on the
part of Government and that of UN member states.”
“It is the goal of Government to ensure that ample opportunities are
provided to hear the voiceless individuals, sub groupings and
vulnerable communities among us. We will take measures to address their
particular concerns. Towards this end, Government continues to support
the existence of a Human Rights Desk within the National AIDS
Directorate,” The Prime Minister said.
He said his administration continues to encourage all persons to access
HIV tests and know their HIV status. This is a time of reflection on
the lives of the persons who have died and the impact of their death on
the country and their families,” he said. The Grenadian leader
committed to ensuring that “persons living with HIV and their families,
as well as the HIV-related orphans, enjoy every opportunity to live a
full life. The quality of their lives should be equal to HIV negative
persons in our country.”
He issued a call for leaders at all levels and citizens to join the
fight, both against the spread of HIV AIDS and the discrimination
against others who were living with the disease.
World AIDS day was commemorated on December 1st each year.
