Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo??

The National HIV/AIDS Commission should have a new chairperson by January, 2010.

This disclosure has come from Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, who said Government was keen to fill the position which became vacant when its former chair, Dr. Carol Jacobs, resigned.

She was speaking today at her Constitution Road Office, during a visit by a World Bank Mission to discuss Barbados’ HIV/AIDS Programme. Those present included Team Task Leader and Senior Health Specialist in the World Bank, Dr. Joana Godinho; Director of the Global AIDS Program-Brazil, Aristides Barbosa Junior; and Director of the local HIV/AIDS Commission, Jacqueline Wiltshire-Gay.

Dr. Byer Suckoo stressed that the project was an important one for this country and promised that Government would "step up" its work in the area of the disease.

She stated that the Commission would continue to take the lead in HIV policy matters, since the virus was not just a health issue, but multi-sectoral, with emphasis on the social aspect.

Dr. Godinho said the World Bank was pleased with the island’s progress in certain areas, but noted there were others that needed improvement, and she identified prevention among high risk groups as a concern.??saustin@barbados.gov.bb

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