GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Caribbean region faces a critical juncture in its decades-long battle against HIV/AIDS, with significant funding reductions threatening to undermine remarkable progress achieved thus far. Dr. Wendy Telgt Emanuelson, Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit, has issued a powerful declaration of resilience despite these financial headwinds.
In her World AIDS Day address, Dr. Emanuelson acknowledged that the path toward eliminating AIDS by 2030 ‘was never meant to be easy,’ but emphasized that recent financial challenges represent ‘one of the most significant tests the region has faced in decades.’ She stressed that these cuts extend beyond mere spreadsheet numbers, potentially jeopardizing essential medicines, prevention programs protecting youth, and the collective hope that has been building across Caribbean territories.
The region has adopted the theme ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response’—a call that resonates deeply across Caribbean nations. Dr. Emanuelson framed this not as a mere slogan but as a testament to the resilience that has historically defined Caribbean people. While acknowledging the ‘strong crosswinds of global funding cuts,’ she asserted that regional resolve ‘has not been shaken; it has been steeled.’
Highlighting the region’s proven capacity to overcome adversity, the PANCAP director noted that Caribbean communities have consistently demonstrated the ability to ‘build stronger, stand firmer and innovate smarter when faced with storms.’ The vision of an AIDS-free Caribbean—where no mother transmits HIV to her child, no life is shortened by AIDS, and stigma becomes a relic of the past—remains an unwavering commitment.
Dr. Emanuelson reaffirmed the region’s dedication to achieving the 95-95-95 targets (95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of diagnosed individuals receiving treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression), citing the transformative power of treatment and community mobilization. She noted that several Caribbean nations have already eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV—a significant milestone in the public health landscape.
This hard-won progress, achieved through the dedication of governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, and individuals living with HIV, constitutes a foundation that will not be allowed to crumble. Instead, the region is transforming its approach by forging more efficient, integrated, and sustainable responses. This includes empowering community leadership, streamlining supply chains, and maximizing the impact of every available resource.
Dr. Emanuelson extended gratitude to international partners, frontline healthcare workers, advocates, and community leaders, emphasizing that their solidarity, dedication, and voices remain crucial. She delivered a direct message to those living with and affected by HIV across the Caribbean: ‘We see you, we stand with you and we reaffirm our promise: you are not alone.’
The PANCAP director concluded with a firm commitment that the region will not surrender its hard-fought gains, vowing to navigate challenges with determination, innovate purposefully, and unite behind a common vision. While acknowledging that the journey has become steeper, she affirmed that the destination remains unchanged: realizing an AIDS-free Caribbean for generations to come.