Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter 
Moore (left) and Cooke (right)
LOCAL HIV prevention, treatment and education programmes are to get a boost from new multimillion financial injections and partnerships in the coming months.
But despite this, the national treatment programme still faces challenges, among them shortages in personnel and medication to treat opportunistic infections.
"We have to scale up significantly the supplies available for treatment and management of opportunistic infections. The drugs used for opportunistic infections are used for most other conditions for persons who do not have HIV. There's a significant shortage of drugs within the health services. We try to buy opportunistic infection drugs and put into the health services but it's very difficult," Dr. Kevin Harvey, co-ordinator of care, treatment and support in the National HIV/STI control and prevention programme, said earlier this year.
SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL SERVICES
He said officials need to improve available drug supplies, human resources and social assistance to HIV positive people.
"I think the social services in the country need to step up and see how they can provide a better supportive environment for these individuals. We try but the Ministry of Health does not have the money to do this," he said.
Steps are being made to do that. Among programmes to get more financial help is the Enhanced Caribbean Response to HIV/AIDS project. According to a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) statement the Government has allocated $104.8 million for the programme in the 2005/06 Estimates of Expenditure.
The project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Jamaican Government, focuses on the establishment of an HIV/AIDS regional training, education and research centre in Kingston and on strengthening HIV-related programmes offered by non-governmental and community based organisations. So far, a regional workshop on antiretroviral treatment was held; 11 contact investigators were trained and vehicles and equipment were procured, JIS said.
Earl Moore, president of Life Insurance Companies Associa-tion (LICA) and Guardian Life, said last Wednesday that officials are hoping to contribute more than $100 million to boost local HIV prevention efforts over the next few years. In addition, Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke, said last week that HIV treatment efforts should benefit from partnerships.
BENEFITTING FROM PARTNERSHIPS
"The National Health Fund will through partnership with the National HIV/AIDS programme facilitate the provision of antiretroviral treatment (HIV-fighting medication)," he said while delivering the Throne Speech at the 2005/2006 session of Parliament at Gordon House, Duke Street, Kingston.
In January, Dr. Harvey said officials were hoping to team up with the National Health Fund (NHF) as part of efforts to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation in how HIV-fighting medication is disbursed.
"Only certain doctors can prescribe the drugs. They report on the medications on a monthly basis ... to ensure that the drugs are used for what they are designated for. We are also seeking to formulate a partnership with the National Health Fund towards a computerised tracking system for drugs in all the major pharmacies. We will be able to track use of drugs," Dr. Harvey said.
The NHF allows Jamaicans to access drugs at a reduced rate for 14 chronic health conditions. Some of these conditions affect HIV positive people, Dr. Harvey said.
