reflecting the blogger's biases and prejudices..
So, the last day. The session was co-chaired by Dr Anita Radix (with links to Grenada) and Dr Jean Pape (with links to Haiti), two distinguished scientists. The first discussion by Dr Donald Simeon of CHRC said that HIV and chronic disease prevention are making good progress in the region, while there is no progress on mental health.. you could tell judging by some of the goings on in the regions, ah mean, mad people never say dey mad right?
So apparently tings not too bad by international standards, some countries better than others. Cuba doing good.
Suzette Moses Burton spoke of civil society involvement in HIV work, and gave the lesson of CRN+ (the website last update in 2007 before their global fund grant get pull). She spoke of the celebration of when they first got the grant, and how things started to go haywire for some reason. This resulted in devastation for the caribbean people living with HIV AIDS who were trying to organise themselves to better access services. Or in short, eye pass from the Global Fund.
The eye pass continues when it seemed that some donors say that they will not fund CRN plus unless CRN change its governance structure and the people there.
Marcus Day from CVC continued the discussion about civil society, moving from his normally brash tone to one which was a lil weird and sounded almost apologist for the donors who very picky and choosey and he talked about the two boarding passes which got to be handed in. He say CVC is not a gatekeeper,and that they have been able to establish a sex workers association and a trans association. Marcus say dat dere must be some harmony between the passion of civil society and the donors er procedures.. and den he talk about grinding, and CVC and Pancap grinding.i Now.. I get dizzy, what he and mr brown does grind? And something about how they like two stone dat grind until they get smooth.. now.. surely dat is not wat civil society supposed to do wid de donors.. safer sex includes frottage.. but this?
Marcus said that a recent sexual health workshop which involved health care providers and men of all sexual orientations was a good example of the kind of interactions which the donors need to support and fund and follow through. (Not sure if anybody grinding wid anybody dere)
The final panel was from Kerrel McKay from the Jamaican youth programme and the work being done to deal with young persons living with HIV AIDS. As with all Government programmes, it sound nice and so on. What I like , is how like Donnellis , she start up with the Bob Marley, Usain Bolt and White Beaches promoting Jamaica. Cynics like me want to say what about Beenie Man, Dudus Coke and Tivoli Gardens.. but Jamaicans like dat.. dey dont hold back on de positive. After her presentation, a paediatrician added to the discussion about the work being done with the children who are now grown and the provision of services for those children, including psycho social support.
A lady from somewhere tell Suzette that the passion for the work got to be the same as the passion for project management and that civil society implements better than Governments. Somebody ask about the situation in Haiti, and Dr Pape say dat with regards to HIV , the situation is the same as before the earthquake. (Language is a funny ting, dat could mean it just as good or just as bad). Dr Pape say dat dey are concerned with TB, since TB infections are rising.
Den a white man stand up and say that he flabbergasted since there is increased sexual violence, no services for MSM and other vulnerable populations. The Burnham in me rise up and say what the ... who is dis man fuh cuss up de haitian doctor.. and den de odder part in me, is like wheh de rass de haitian msm to ask this question in this Caribbean forum? And the white man mek a point about the absence of people living with HIV from any Haitian discourse. And the rest of we shut up because we dont really know nuttin about haiti and we cant talk French.
Mr Charles from Grenada asked why Dr Simeon did not include the OECS in his presentation - Dr Simeon said that it was not intentional but he was sampling to compare. People were not too convinced at this response.
The time was near finishing, in fact the time always near to done. Donnellis also made a point that people who are positive should be free to decide when they want to disclose.
Sharon Mottley from CCNAPC spoke of the importance of sharing information so that people could see how the regional policies were being implemented in some countries. A lady with a nice musical accent voice ask a question about media and source of information . I stupidy, I only remember the voice, but not what she really say. Was trying to see if the lady was nice looking as the voice but the room was dark.
At some point Dr Radix said, time to go. As with all the sessions, there was not enough time to ask questions or interact.
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