PANCAP

CMLF GF R9 End of Project Report

Strengthening Caribbean Laboratory Networks
Overall Objective: “A regional network for provision of laboratory testing to support HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Opportunistic Infections (OIs) (including support for monitoring of Haematology and Biochemical parameters) established in the region”.

Goals

The larger project goals are those of the CRSF:

1. to reduce the number of new infections;
2. to lower mortality due to HIV; and
3. lessen the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS on households, each by 25% (CRSF,p.21).

Objectives

To contribute to achieving the goals, the project has five objectives. These correspond to five of the six CRSF Priority Areas. The sixth CRSF Priority Area, multi-sectoral coordination, is a cross cutting theme.

1. An enabling environment that fosters universal access to HIV services.
2. Reduced HIV transmission in vulnerable populations.
3. Lower PLH morbidity and mortality (in the small islands of the OECS)
4. Improved human and laboratory resources (health systems strengthening).
5. Better information on the epidemic and the response.

Project Beneficiaries

Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Suriname.
The 16 beneficiary countries.

Populations

• Men who have sex with men (MSM)
• Sex workers (SW)
• Drug users (DU)
• Prisoners
• Youth (including in-school and churches, and marginalized youth)
• Migrant and mobile populations
• People Living with HIV (PLH)

Sub-Recipients

The project will be implemented by seven sub-recipients (SRs):

• Center of Orientacion and Integrated Investigacion (COIN)
• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
• University of the West Indies (UWI)
• Caribbean Medical Laboratory Foundation (CMLF)
• Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC)
• PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU)
• Education Development Council (EDC)

CMLF implementation on this project to date includes:

• Advocacy
• Standards and Legislation
• Regional Network Development