Caribbean (Hansard, 14 November 2001)

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out the conclusions her Department reached in its examination of further support to the CARICOM-sponsored regional plan for tackling 'HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean; and if she will make a statement. [14412]

§ Clare Short
We have confirmed our readiness to provide additional support to the regional HIV/AIDS action plan for the Caribbean, particularly in the key area of policy and advocacy support. CARICOM will be convening a meeting of all interested donors in St. Lucia this month to examine the most effective process for turning the action plan into reality.

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out how the funding for the second phase of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre Project has been allocated and itemise the purposes to which it has been applied, by island or territory. [14416]

§ Clare Short
DFID support for the second Phase of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) project is geared towards the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Sexually transmitted diseases in the Caribbean (£713,564). Specific outputs include:

(a) improved HIV/AIDS/CSTD case management in Caribbean member countries which aims to improve the quality of STD diagnosis and treatment;

(b) the development and implementation of information, education and communication (IEC) interventions aimed at target groups;

(c) improved management of National AIDS programmes in participating Caribbean member countries; and

(d) implementation of sentinel surveillance for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in six Caribbean member countries.

We are considering a further project with CAREC designed to strengthen its effectiveness as an organisation to respond to the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS in the region.