“PARTNERS SHOW SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SAVING YOUTHS LIVING WITH HIV IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO”
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From Left to right: Mr. Conrad Mitchel- Patient Advocate, Dr Nyla Lyons- Public Health Specialist U.S Embassy, Ms. Jennifer Abraham- President, Rotary Club of Maraval, Mr. John Mc Intyre, -Charge de Affairs U.S. Embassy, His Worship Joel Martinez-Mayor of Port of Spain, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards -Director Medical Research Foundation, Mr. Louis Espinoza- Gilead Sciences, Ms. Elizabeth Murray- Gilead Sciences and Mr. Jason Daniel-Massy Motors
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Left to right: Ms. Wendy Fitzwilliam, Mr. John Mc Intyre Charge de Affairs U.S Embassy, His Worship Mayor Joel Martinez, the Honorable Shamfa Cudjoe Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr Nyla Lyons, Public Health Specialist U.S. Embassy, Honorable Chief Justice Ivor Archie, and Dr Jeffrey Edwards Director of the Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Medical Research Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (MRF) in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Embassy and the Ministry of Health launched "Partnerships for Youth: Alive and Well" on Wednesday November 28 in recognition of World AIDS Day 2018 at Briar Place.
The event was unprecedented bringing together international, regional and local funders and collaborators to include: Gilead Sciences, Sagicor, Rotary Club, Massy Group, and champions for this cause to include the Honorable Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the Honorable Shamfa Cudjoe Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. John Mc Intyre Charge de Affairs U.S Embassy, His Worship Mayor Joel Martinez, Ms. Wendy Fitzwilliam, and delegates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three-time Soca Monarch “Voice” performed “Alive and Well” supporting the theme of the initiative and in support of the event (pics attached)
As an ongoing concern, youth (ages 15 -24 years) in the Caribbean, and in Trinidad and Tobago continue to be disproportionally impacted by HIV. The Ministry of Health estimates a total of 1,643 youth living with HIV, 600 of whom are reported to be out of care or undiagnosed. The Partnership for Youth program delivers an innovative package of "youth friendly" services in order to increase youth access to information, tools and resources they need to reduce their risk, assist them to make healthy decisions, and get the treatment and care they need to improve their overall health and well-being.
December 2018 commemorates the 30- year anniversary of World AIDS Day in Trinidad and Tobago and around the World and Partnerships for Youth: Alive and Well also celebrated the ambitious efforts of our government (international and local), private, non-profit, community and youth advocates to strengthen awareness and increase unity in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The program also celebrated the youth of Trinidad and Tobago as an integral part of this partnership in order to bring about the change and improvements we want to see in their health and well-being.