AIDS Task Force finalizes plan

Thirteen years ago, the first AIDS case was diagnosed in Belize. Today, it is estimated that seven thousand people are HIV positive in Belize. As the number is expected to increase, the National AIDS Task Force since 1998 has been working on a National Strategic Action Plan for the year 2000 to 2003. The plan will be a guide for program managers. Dana Rhamdas, N.A.T.F.’s consultant says they have conducted a series of meetings in the districts to gather the information for the final document. Today, Rhamdas and editors of “Challenging the HIV/AIDS Epidemic” met to work on the final draft.

Dana Rhamdas, Consultant, N.A.T.F.

“This will be the strategic plan for HIV/AIDS and this document will serve as a guide. It won’t have specific activities but it will serve as a guide for the different stakeholders so when they are ready to plan their action plan, this will be a good reference document for them. It has a mission, a vision. It has guiding principles so as they develop their specific HIV/AIDS plan, they will be able to follow the principles that have been identified through the consultation.”

The final draft document will be presented to the Ministry of Health, Economic Development and Education in Belmopan on September eighteenth.