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Minister of Family, Stephen Lashley, in discussions with the World Bank’s Senior Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Dr. Shiyan Chao.????(C. Pitt/BGIS)

A number of officials from Government Ministries will engage in "intense sessions" over the coming weeks to ensure the attainment of the HIV and AIDS implementation strategy.

This disclosure came Wednesday from Minister of Family, Stephen Lashley, following talks at his Warrens Office with Senior Economist at the World Bank for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, Dr. Shiyan Chao.

Mr. Lashley said some of the island’s targets "may need to be recalibrated" because of recent global trends. "We had a review meeting with the World Bank Mission and agreed there was a need to set some aggressive targets in light of new developments in relation to the US $35 million Government of Barbados/World Bank HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project, as well as the recent High-Level Meeting on AIDS which was held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"At that gathering, we discussed and planned how we would go forward in the global HIV response and fight, as well as agreed on key high-level strategies. So, we will review the Government of Barbados/World Bank HIV/AIDS programme in view of that meeting and make any necessary changes," he explained.????

A two-member World Bank Mission has been meeting with key public sector officials here this week to assess the progress of the US $35 million project, which supports the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for HIV Prevention and Control 2008-2013.

Dr. Chao reiterated the importance of the project and disclosed that a mid-term review of it would be done in December.

The two-member team will leave the island today.

saustin@barbados.gov.bb

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