SOCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
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SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
CHAPTER 3: NATIONAL SOCIAL SITUATION
Recognising the need for continued investment
to fulfil the MDG goal of zero new HIV infections,
zero AIDS related deaths and zero stigma and
discrimination by 2015 (Goal 6), and to curb the
epidemic, the GoRTT developed the HIV and
AIDS National Strategic Plan 2013-2018 and
established the HIV and AIDS Agency.
The HIV and AIDS Agency, which was launched
in January 2013, was established to provide
national leadership and co-ordination of the
expanded HIV national response, as well as
function in a monitoring and advisory capacity.
One of its responsibilities is the implementation
of the strategic policy objectives identified in
the HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan; 2013-
2018. The Agency comprises key stakeholders
from Government Ministries, NGOs, CSOs,
the private sector, regional organisations and
persons living with HIV/AIDS.
The mandate of the Interim HIV and AIDS
Agency includes
27
:
• Building and deepening multi-sectoral
partnerships
to
achieve
national
commitment, support and ownership of
the response to HIV/AIDS coordinating
and supporting activities pursuant to the
reduction of the population’s susceptibility
to HIV/AIDS;
• Establishing national goals and targets
of the priority strategic areas monitoring
and evaluating the implementation and
attainment of national goals, objectives and
targetswith respect toHIV/AIDS as identified
in the national strategic plan;
• Approving
budgets
required
for
implementation of HIV response processes
Defining national HIV policy and providing
guidance on sectoral policies;
• Identifying training gaps and building
capacity of stakeholders to mount an
effective and sustainable response to HIV/
AIDS;
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/
• Championing and accelerating the legislative
agenda required to support HIV/AIDS
response, programmes and plans;
• Undertaking multidisciplinary research on
issues related to the social, economic and
psychological antecedents and impacts
of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families,
communities, businesses, and other sectors;
• Collating information and preparing reports
and briefs for local and international bodies;
• Monitoring and evaluating all aspects of
NGOs response toHIV/AIDSandestablishing
systems to ensure accountability and
achievement of stated goals and objectives;
• Co-ordinating and providing guidance on the
activities of the HIV/AIDS Coordinators in
various ministries.
The HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP)
has three over-arching goals:
• To reduce the incidence of HIV infections in
Trinidad and Tobago;
• To mitigate the negative impact of HIV and
AIDS on persons living with HIV and affected
by HIV and AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago;
• To reduce HIV and AIDS related discrimina-
tion in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Plan also focuses on five priorities areas:
1: Prevention
Combining
Behavioural,
Biomedical and Structural Interventions
2: Optimising Diagnosis, Treatment, Care and
Support Outcomes
3: Advocacy, Human Rights and an Enabling
Environment
4: Strategic Information
5: Policy and Programme Management
The NSP further seeks to achieve the following
impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s HIV epidemic:
• Reduce the incidence of new infections to
zero in infants and less than 500 per annum
in young people and adults;
• Reduce the prevalence of HIV infection to
less than 1% within the general population;
• Halve the rate AIDS related mortality;
