Education Minister pledges commitment to HIV/AIDS policy development

Saint Jean

The Hon. Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Mr. Petter Saint Jean on Tuesday gave his ministry’s commitment to the formulation of a new HIV/AIDS/STIs policy to guide workplace activities and relationships within the education sector.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop on the development of a HIV/AIDS/STIs and other Life Threatening Illnesses (LTIs) Policy, Mr. Saint Jean said the policy was expected to guide educators and policy makers on  ways of dealing with HIV and AIDS in a non-discriminatory manner.

“The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National HIV and AIDS Response Programme (NHARP), continues to respond to and play its role in sensitising students, teachers and parents on the incidence of HIV/AIDS,” he said. “The workshop is a continuation of the ministry’s involvement and response to this epidemic. I anticipate the completion and presentation of the first draft of this policy at the conclusion of the four-day workshop, which will be another demonstration of the involvement of the Ministry of Education in dealing with the issue of HIV and AIDS within the education sector.”

He added that the HIV/AIDS/STIs policy document will represent a Dominican response to HIV and AIDS in the workplace and in the education system.

The workshop is meant to provide broad guidelines and parameters to govern relationships between employers and employees as it relates to the impact of HIV/AIDS/STIs and other LTIs in the workplace.

It also aims to develop a draft education sector HIV/AIDS/STIs plan in alignment with the aims, priorities and perspectives of the Dominica National Policy on HIV and AIDS and formulate a comprehensive implementation and awareness plan.

The workshop is organised by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development in collaboration with CARICOM and the Education Development Centre (EDC) and is facilitated by CARICOM Consultant Sandra Berry.

Berry told the opening ceremony, the expected outcome of the workshop is an agreement on the guiding principles, goals and vision to provide direction for content development of the policy.

“I hope that the policy will not just be drafted but approved and implemented in a timely manner so that the spread of the epidemic in Dominica will be curtailed as Dominicans realise more that this matter is a workplace issue.

“It must address employment discrimination, gender equality, screening and confidentiality and continue the social dialogue and provide support for care, prevention and education of all our peoples,” she said.

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10 Comments

  1. HIV AIDS
    November 9, 2011

    GWAH BAY PAS NEE NOMBRE ENCORE

    D SILENT KILLER IS LOUDEST IN MY SOUT CITY

    STAND UP AND PUT AN END TO THIS AIDS MATTER

    WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS WHILE THIS DISEASE IS BEING SPREAD ALL OVER THE PLACE IF MY MAN GETS IT FROM THIS WOMAN WHO DID DAT MAN AND THE OTHER MAN DID DAT WOMAN WHO DID MY EX MAN AND I GOT IT DEN MY NEW MAN HAVE IT AND HE GAVE IT TO THIS BITCH DOWN THE ROAD WHO GAVE IT TI DAT YOUNGMAN WHO LOVING DIS OTHER YOUNGWOMAN AND SO ON AND SO ON

    LORD PUT A HAND

    WE DEAD IN GRAND BAY

  2. Francis Chicago
    November 8, 2011

    MY people we all say that homosexual a Abomination to GOD thats true.Fornication is also a Abomination to GOD.NO one should have sex on less they married.Before we should not conducted our self in lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. GOD lawS and principleS thats the help we need. LUCIANO have song that says man was born to serve GOD AIDS CANCER THEM DISEASES FROM THE DEVIL.

  3. Abu Sulayman
    November 8, 2011

    In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

    The minister spoke about policies, I wonder how many reported cases of HIV cases we have on the Island? I’ve noticed when it comes to politics, Skerrit etc, there are so many comments, however, when there are important issues such as economics, HIV etc there are hardly any comments. In my view this reflects negatively on the Dominican populace.

    Secondly, it is sad that only when there is a serious HIV epidemic the government and NGO’s will step up to assist the situation. It is sad how we think, we fail to implement ‘prevention is better than cure.’

  4. GWAH-BAY HIV
    November 8, 2011

    MY COMMUNITY IS UNDER A MAJOR AIDS/HIV PANDEMIC

    I IM CALLING ON DNO TO COME UP THERE AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELVES

    THIS IS NO JOKE

    HELP US SAVE GRAND BAY YOUTHS

    AIDS IS SPREADING LIKE WILD FIRE

    PLEASE PRAY FOR US

    MANY PERSONS ARE CONCERNED SHOCK AND ARE AFRAID

    HELP US IN SOUT CITY

    DOMINICANS HELP US BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

    • Lougaoo Mem
      November 8, 2011

      Testing, testing and more testing before it gets worst. We now have drugs to slow down the progress and effects of the virus. Education, education and more education on how the virus spreads and kills, and hope it sends a message that this is for real.

    • Anonymous
      November 8, 2011
    • Aye Dominique
      November 8, 2011

      I know what you mean, Grand Bay is in serious trouble. It is appalling that there are two parl reps closely associated with Grand Bay, both of which are medical personels, and nothing to date is being done to address the issue.

      It is going to be one piece of sadness in Dominica when the HIV infected individuals begin surfacing one by one. I am afraid, our workforce is under threat, our future is under threat because this thing is affecting the most productive group in our society, the youth.

      Grand Bay needs help and so does the rest of Dominica, but I know particularly of a serious piece of mischief going on in Grand Bay, it is really nerve wrecking.

      Where are the parents, where are the church leaders and our elected officials?????

      • Anonymous
        November 8, 2011

        “Nothing is being done.” That’s the point to be stressed here in this article. Policy proposal is another excuse to do nothing but talk, talk and more talk. The real question to be asked is when will theory be matched with action – to include tools systems and training that will move ideas from the printed page to manifest action and impact on lives.

      • concerned citizen
        November 8, 2011

        well the young women are foolish…. a bb is more to them than their health…

    • GHETTO GIRL
      November 8, 2011

      ALL OF YOU ARE HYPOCRITES.YOU ALL KNOW WHO IS SPREADING IT AND HE IS NOT SPREADING IT IN JUST GRANDBAY.YES HE KNOWS HIMSELF,THE BIG DRUG DEALER WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM.BUT BECAUSE THIS MAN HAS MONEY EVERYBODY IS SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING.ITS ABOUT TIME THE AUTHORITIES DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DEVIL.

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