CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana (November 29, 2025) – On World AIDS Day 2025, Caribbean health authorities have issued a resolute declaration to safeguard decades of progress against HIV/AIDS despite mounting financial challenges threatening regional treatment programs.
Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit, delivered a stirring message under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” Her statement comes amid significant reductions in global health funding that jeopardize access to essential medications, prevention initiatives, and community support services throughout the Caribbean basin.
The region’s top health official emphasized that financial constraints represent more than budgetary figures—they directly impact the wellbeing of countless individuals dependent on sustained antiretroviral therapy and comprehensive care systems. “These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet,” Dr. Emanuelson noted, “they represent a potential threat to the medicines that keep our Caribbean brothers and sisters healthy.”
Despite these challenges, the Caribbean demonstrates remarkable resilience. Several nations have already achieved elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission, while others approach the ambitious 95-95-95 targets (95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% on treatment, and 95% with suppressed viral loads). These accomplishments, built through collaborative government action, healthcare worker dedication, and community activism, form the foundation for future progress.
PANCAP is spearheading a transformative approach that prioritizes efficiency, integration, and sustainability. The organization is optimizing supply chains, empowering local communities, and maximizing resource utilization to ensure continued advancement toward an AIDS-free Caribbean. Dr. Emanuelson specifically acknowledged healthcare professionals, advocacy groups, and individuals living with HIV as essential partners in this renewed effort.
The director’s message concluded with an unequivocal commitment: “We will not go back. We will not surrender the gains for which we have fought so hard. The journey may now be steeper, but our destination remains the same.”