Trinidad & Tobago

HIV & AIDS

Indian Cricketer Sachen Tandulker, at the Pride of Gonzales Project as part of the HIV & AIDS initiative of UN/West Indies Players Association.

There are numerous social factors contributing to the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. UNDP programmes focus on building capacity within the Government to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS and provide the institutional arrangements for a coordinated response. With support from UNDP, Trinidad and Tobago has developed a National Strategic Plan that now guides the country’s response to HIV and AIDS.

UNDP provided technical assistance for the establishment of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC), which is responsible for managing the multi-dimensional response to HIV and AIDS, including research and policy setting.  The NACC was established in 2004.

In the absence of comprehensive research on the various facets of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, UNDP commissioned a National Human Development Report on the issue.  Resources from the Programme Accelerated Funds have been used to review the legislation as it would affect persons who are HIV positive as well as to strengthen youth organizations through creation of a network of Peer counseling groups in schools and among out-of -school youth. 

As a trusted development partner, and co-sponsor of UNAIDS, UNDP works to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and reduce its impact by helping countries :

• Put HIV and AIDS at the centre of national development and poverty reduction strategies;

• Build national capacity to mobilize all levels of government and civil society for a coordinated and effective response to the epidemic;

• Protect the rights of people living with AIDS, women, and vulnerable populations.

UNDP has played a critical role both at the country level as well as within the Caribbean region.  The work in this area was closely aligned with downstream work being done to strengthen capacity at the community level for dealing with social issues.

A new portfolio of work in this area will be rolled out in 2009.  

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