NATIONAL HIV/AIDS COMMISSION (NHAC)

ESTABLISHMENT OF NHAC

From 1985 up until April 2001, the National AIDS Programme (NAP) had been managed solely by the Ministry of Health. In September 2000 Barbados hosted a sub-regional meeting to discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS on small-island developing states with the international donor community. During this meeting it was recognized that if the Caribbean Community wanted to reduce the incidence of the disease in the sub-region, then it would require not only financial resources but also political commitment at the highest level. The Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon. Owen S. Arthur, M.P., used this opportunity to announce that the administration of the NAP would move into his Office effective May 2001 and that the Government of Barbados would pledge $100 million dollars to the fight over the next five years.

The Prime Minister also stated that this expanded programme would be multi-sectoral in its focus and involve all Ministries. In the initial stages of the Programme the following Ministries would be involved:

• Attorney-General's Office
• Civil Service and Public Sector Reform
• Education, Youth Affairs and Sports
• Health
• Home Affairs including the Government Information Service
• Labour and Social Security
• Social Transformation
• Tourism and International Transport

Each of these ministries have responsibility for both the design and implementation of their sectoral programmes.