Last Updated on October 28, 2019, 12:39 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Former St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has called for renewed efforts in the fight against cancer and has pledged to champion the cause to bring help to victims as he did for HIV/AIDS sufferers in the region.
“Let’s keep on praying, hoping and supporting every initiative to fight against Cancer and finding a Cure,” Dr Douglas posted on his FaceBook page shortly after joining hundreds of nationals in the traditional Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Pink Walk under the theme “Walk for the cause, Race for Life,” on Saturday 26 October.
Dr Douglas, who during his tenure as prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, was lead spokesman responsible for HIV/AIDS and health related matters in the CARICOM quasi cabinet and championed the cause of HIV/AIDS in the region.
“Now there’s zero transmission from mother to baby and anti-retroviral medications are available to the People of the Region including St Kitts and Nevis at a low/no cost,” said Dr Douglas.
“Like wise I shall do the same for cancer,” pledged Dr Douglas, who served as chair of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) from 2001 to mid February 2015 and is widely credited with soliciting the involvement of pharmaceuticals, former United States President, the Hon Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, which was formed after a request was made by Dr Douglas for help during an international HIV/AIDS conference in Barcelona, Spain.
The key events of PANCAP under the chairmanship of Dr Douglas include:
2002: CARICOM/PANCAP – Ministers of Health – first region to negotiate 90% reduction in price of drugs with six pharmaceutical companies from US$12,500 to US$1,200.
2004: PANCAP is designated an International Best Practice by UNAIDS
2006: PANCAP coordinates the region’s response to the UN mandate for ‘universal access’
2009: A regional stigma unit is established
2010: The region sets the elimination of mother-to child transmission as a goal
2013: Justice for All is launched and establishment of the Strategic Priority Areas (SPAs) of the CRSF 2014-2018 aimed at building on previous iterations of the Framework to move the regional response closer to realising the vision of an AIDS-free Caribbean.
The SPAs are interlinked and overlapping, together constituting a holistic and comprehensive approach to addressing complex social and structural challenges. Progress is interdependent; results are required in all areas if the elimination of AIDS is to be achieved.
The six strategic priority areas are (1) – An enabling environment (2) Shared responsibility (3) Prevention of HIV transmission (4) Care, treatment and support (5) Integration and (6) Sustainability.
The goal of the CRSF 2014-2018 is to halt the spread and reduce the impact of HIV in the Caribbean, while promoting sustainable health and development.
PANCAP’s Vision is for an AIDS-free Caribbean by 2030.
Dr Douglas, who had the sterling support of Dr Edward Greene in his various capacities and CARICOM Secretaries-General has been lauded by his Caribbean colleagues, United Nations, the Commonwealth and world leaders.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
