Dolores Balderamos Garcia to head AIDS Commission

Florencio Marin’s resignation was not the only item on the agenda of this week’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Cabinet ministers participated in a gender sensitization session conducted by a facilitator from the Pan American Health and World Health Organizations. The session which was arranged by the Department of Women’s Affairs centered on policy issues relating to women’s roles and responsibilities as well as promotes women’s participation in all levels of decision making. The session it seems was not just a talk shop because during the weekly meeting, the only female Minister in the Cabinet, Dolores Balderamos Garcia was named the chairman of the National AIDS Commission. Cabinet endorsed a national strategy to fight AIDS and Balderamos Garcia, as Minister of Human Development and Women will spearhead the development of the National AIDS Commission. The Ministry of Health will assist with the services component of the plan. On a lighter note, Cabinet decided that one way to greet the new millennium will be to plant trees. The Minister agreed to help fund a drive to plant ten thousand trees throughout the country. Participation from the private sector is encouraged.