Mission Statement
AIDS Society of Barbados (ASOB) will promote the value of human lives, establish and address the concerns of the infected/affected, employ strategies to achieve positive behavioural changes that will destigmatise HIV disease and ensure the rights of individuals are preserved.

What is ASOB?
AIDS Society of Barbados (ASOB) was established 13th November 1990. It was conceived out of the need to coordinate an effective community response to the pandemic. It is the oldest, largest and most effective non-governmental organisation in the fight against AIDS in Barbados.

What are ASOB's objectives?

• To support the worldwide effort to combat the spread of HIV disease.
• To strengthen AIDS prevention activities and educational programmes at all levels of society to change behaviour.
• To promote and strengthen the spirit of solidarity, tolerance, compassion and understanding for living with HIV/AIDS.
• To promote the rights and welfare of persons infected/affected by HIV/AIDS.

• Counsel individuals and their families;
• Speak with groups, e.g. PTAs, service clubs, church congregations, schools and businesses;
• Participate in seminars and panel discussions;
• Participate as a band in De Congaline and Crop-Over festivals;
• Publish AIDSWatch magazine, the first and to date only publication that focuses on the concerns and views of persons with HIV/AIDS;
• Initiated and co-ordinated public counselling and testing at the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza;
• Initiated information programmes to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS during the festival periods in the island, through the distribution of condoms and literature at various national events such as the Holetown Festival, the Oistins Fish Festival and Bridgetown Market.
  

Primary Objectives 2001-2002

• To motivate the church to respond effectively to the needs of infected persons through ongoing education programmes with the various denominations.
• To promote the Anne-Marie Albert Fund and distribute its resources to ensure care, support and education of the orphans and young people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
• To expand ASOB's national education programme to promote a greater understanding of HIV/AIDS and to destigmatise the disease.

Contact Information

Mailing Address:

Email: AIDSSociety@hotmail.com

Background:

The Government of Barbados in its attempt to address the issue of homelessness among the HIV community established the Elroy Phillips Centre. This Centre was named after a young man who was diagnosed with AIDS and was the first person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to present a face to the public of Barbados. He subsequently became an advocate and a great source of support for other PLWHA.

The Centre was founded on the principle that all human beings have a right to a dignified existence and originally was conceptualized as a hostel providing shelter and care for PLWHA in a supportive environment free of prejudice and stigma. It was opened officially on July 7, 1995 and became operational on August 22, 1995.

Purpose:
It was the intention to manage the Centre on the Halfway House model and approaches would be made by the Government for collaboration with NGOs and other private sector agencies in an effort to provide hostel and hospice care for PLWHA.

Management Structure:
The Centre can accommodate a maximum of ten (10) residents and is attended by ten (10) staff members headed by a Supervisor and an Assistant Supervisor. The staff includes three (3) trained nurses, five (5) health aides and two (2) general workers. This complement of staff ensures that the Centre has 24-hour supervision at all times. In addition, there are four (4) government Security Officers and a weekend Watchman assigned to the Centre.

Admission requirements:
A Selection Committee comprising the Director of the AIDS Management Team (AMT), at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the AIDS Social Worker of the AMT and the Home Supervisor of the Centre selects the residents. At conceptualisation of the Centre, it was the intention that the residents would be ambulant and in charge of their own care while as well as being responsible for all other aspects of their lives. Residents are expected to sign an admission contract and undergo a three-month probationary period before full admission to the Centre.

The admission criteria for all persons admitted to the Centre include:

1. HIV positive or AIDS defined
   
2. Be homeless or lacking domestic support
   
3. Be ambulatory
   
4. Be willing to undergo a psychiatric evaluation
   
5. Sixteen (16) years or over
   
6. Referred by the Selection committee
   

Since the Centre received its first residents in August 1995, thirty-four persons have passed through the Centre. Presently there are seven residents, six men and 1 woman.

Mission:
The Ministry of Health’s HIV/AIDS Food Bank is committed to addressing nutrition as it relates to the complications associated with HIV and AIDS.
Our objective is to provide nutritional care and s'upport for persons living with HIV and AIDS, while helping them to achieve optimal nutritional status.

The Food Bank:

• Distributes nutritionally balanced food hampers and liquid supplements

• Provides nutritional counselling on healthy eating habits, dealing with dietary challenges and nutritional management as it relates to medication and food interaction.

• Provides education on food preparation, food budgeting and the importance of exercise.

• Provides education on all aspects of food safety including food hygiene and appropriate storage etc.

Why is Support to the Food Bank Necessary?

Simple! Generally, people who are ill have difficulty working. HIV/AIDS can bring with it a series of nutritional dysfunctions. The weakening of the immune system reinforces the need for nutritional support.

Individuals, families and communities are not only impacted by the symptoms of HIV and AIDS but are affected by the symptoms of prejudice, stigma and discrimination.

C.A.R.E. BARBADOS : Comfort, Assist, Reach out, Educate

Mission Statement
“C.A.R.E is committed to being the voice of the HIV/AIDS Community by Educating, Rehabilitating, Motivating and Networking Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), to reassure self respect, improve the quality of life and make valuable contributions to society by minimizing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the wider community.”

Overview
C.A.R.E Barbados is a registered, non-governmental organization formed in March 1993, to mobilize persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS; thus involving them in addressing their psychological, social, health and spiritual needs.

Its membership is open to all persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The network encourages and advocates user-friendly services and responsible sexual behaviors through HIV/AIDS sensitization and education activities.

Our intervention focuses on coordinating, strengthening and expanding resources and delivery systems for the welfare of those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Aims and Objectives

• Provide emotional and other support to people living with HIV/AIDS through the establishment of support groups and otherwise;
• Promote the welfare of those persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS;
• Provide advocacy on matters of human rights in relation to people living with HIV/AIDS in particular, and discrimination and stigmatization of the community of PLWHA;
• Educate PLWHA and members of the wider society on the health, psychological and social impact of HIV/AIDS on those infected and affected;
• Educate PLWHA on the health benefits of medication;
• Act as a lobbying group to encourage and facilitate change in attitudes and treatment of PLWHA and those affected by the disease;
• Participate as a strategic partner in Barbados’ response to HIV/AIDS;
• Act as a representative on the National HIV/AIDS Commission.

• Work as a partner in line Ministry core groups to provide an informed

• response to the HIV/AIDS situation in Barbados;
• Provide reliability and validity to the National response to HIV/AIDS;

Administration
The network is governed by an elected five member executive committee. This committee provides policy direction, assists in the formulation of strategic development plans, monitors and evaluates the implementation of programmes and service delivery through the secretariat.

Programmes/Services
Our services are designed to provide a system to those persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. This is facilitated by the following activities:

• Supportive counseling

• Home based and institutional care

• Public speaking

• Self esteem & capacity building Training

• Seminars, Conferences (Local & Abroad)

• Workshops (Local & Abroad)

• Peer education and members orientation training

• Community Outreach activities

• Advocating on the behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS in the areas of housing, access to medical care equal rights in the workplace.

For further information please contact C.A.R.E Barbados

P.O BOX 1249
Bridgetown, Barbados
Email: carebdos@hiv-aids.gov.bb ; carebarbados@hotmail.com
Phone no: (246) 436-7770

The Ladymeade Reference Unit was officially opened on June 26th, 2002 as part of the national expanded response to HIV/AIDS.
At its opening clients attending the Counselling Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were transferred to the unit, and as of the end of July 2004, 689 clients have been registered at the unit.

The LRU comprises two facilities. The first is a modernised ambulatory care clinic housing a multi-disciplinary team of health care staff providing medical interventions focused on disease management and HAART, VCT, supportive counselling and counselling to promote adherence to the ART medications; nutritional services; in-house pharmacy services and community outreach and domiciliary care activities.

The second facility, a state of the art laboratory facility staffed by a highly skilled team with cutting edge laboratory equipment at their disposal. The majority of the activities for the treatment care and support programme are channelled through this unit.

The unit is headed by Dr. Timothy Roach, the Clinical Director and is staffed as follows:

Medical:
Registrar: Dr. Kishna Kilaru
Senior House Officers: Dr. Dale Babb
Dr. P. Anton R. Best
Nursing:
Staff Nurses: S/N Arilita Gumbs
S/N Charmaine Ray
Community Health Sisters: Sheila Forde
Ira Waterman
Nursing Assistant: Julienne St. Juste

Social Services:
Social Worker: Harriette Clarke

Pharmacy:
Pharmacists: Rosamund Lovell
Angela Bailey
Pharmacy Clerk: Jennifer Blackman

Medical Records:
Clerk: Dale Murphy

Ancillary Staff:
Orderly: Anthony Gibson
Driver: David Forde
Domestic worker: Wendy Burrowes
Security Guard: Paul Sivers

Services offered at the unit include:



1. MEDICAL
• The medical supervision and management of HIV infected persons
• The provision of antiretroviral drugs to those persons meeting the requirements for the medication according to current Caribbean guidelines
• Monitoring and evaluation of persons on antiretroviral therapy
• Assessment and treatment of victims of sexual assault
• Provision of post exposure prophylaxis

2. COUNSELLING
• General counselling of clients prior to starting antiretroviral therapy
• Continued counselling during antiretroviral therapy
• Emphasis on prevention of spread of HIV and on safer sex practices
• Counselling of victims of sexual assault

3. VOLUNTARY TESTING AND COUNSELLING (VCT)
VCT services are offered at the unit and are utilised mainly by:

• Persons who consider themselves to have been at risk of contracting HIV
• Victims of sexual assault or persons exposed to HIV through occupational hazard such as a needle stick injury
• Couples prior to marriage

4. DOMICILLARY COMMUNITY VISITS
Home visits are conducted by the community health sisters:

• To educate and monitor patients on HAART
• To locate clinic defaulters
• To perform contact tracing
• To assess clients medico-social needs for referral to appropriate social services and aid agencies

5. HOSPITAL LIASON
• Patients registered at the unit who are admitted to hospital are followed up and visited during their hospital stay.
• Newly diagnosed HIV infected individuals in hospital are visited and arrangements made for their outpatient follow-up at the unit.
• Patients who are discharged from hospital prior to receiving the results of a positive HIV test are located and given post test counselling and encouraged to register at the unit. • The Community Health Sisters, medical and pharmacy staff respond to requests from schools, churches, businesses and community groups to speak on various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

6. EDUCATION
The Community Health Sisters, medical and pharmacy staff respond to requests from schools, churches, businesses and community groups to speak on various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

AIDS MANAGEMENT TEAM

History

In 1989, the National Advisory Committee on AIDS, now called the National HIV/AIDS Commission, recognising that infection with HIV was going to produce an unprecedented epidemic recommended that a multifaceted team with a holistic, bio-psychosocial approach should be established to combat this spreading scourge. The report was approved by the Cabinet and in 1990; the AIDS Management Team of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was established.
Composition

The AMT is headed by a Consultant Physician with a specialist interest in Respiratory Diseases. There is another physician-in-training and there are co-opted members from other specialties such as Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Psychiatry. The important task of counselling the HIV infected and affected is undertaken by two trained Counsellors who also function as clinic nurses when the Counselling Clinic is in operation. Other nurses from the areas of the Medical Wards, Antenatal Clinic and The Elroy Philips Centre are an integral part of the AMT. A dedicated Social Worker is attached to the Team and a Health Education Officer is responsible for the AIDS education of the hospital and Ministry of Health staff. The Education Officer also functions as secretary and facilitator to the Team. Recently the role of the AMT has expanded to include community-based activities and education as a Public Health Physician has joined the Team.

Activities
Counselling Clinic
The Counselling Clinic is the site of the major doctor/patient interaction of the AMT and operates as a medical out-patient clinic in the Respiratory Unit of the QEH where the IIIV infected are seen, examined, monitored and treated as necessary. New referrals are seen in a timely manner and the clinic aims to provide medical and counselling services in a supportive environment.

Counselling
The Counsellor, of the AMT provide a Counselling service that address all of the major areas of HIV/AIDS counselling i.e. pre and post test counselling family and "significant other' counseling antenatal and pre-discharge counselling.

Testing and Monitoring
All blood for HIV testing, CD4 monitoring and routine medical testing is drawn by AMT members in the Respiratory Unit.

Medical Management
The physicians of the AMT are responsible for the medical care of the HIV+ individuals who are admitted to the wards - whichever medical specialty they are admitted under Medical, Paediatric, Obstetric etc.

Drug Advocacy
As a developing country Barbados is unable to provide many of the expensive drugs needed by the HIV infected. The AMT serves to liaise with the specially authorized drug programme of the Barbados Drug Service and the pharmaceutical companies to attempt to obtain these medications.

Social Work
Besides attending to the social needs of the AMT clients, the Social Worker is also responsible for the assessment of patients for the Elroy Phillips Centre - a hostel for the homeless HIV positive.

HIV/AIDS Education
The programme of HIV/AIDS education conducted by the AMT Education Officer has increased HIV/AIDS awareness throughout the QEH, the affiliated teaching~ institutions and the community.

Support Groups
The ANIT has consistently attempted to encourage and nurture the development of HIV infected and affected support groups. It has been instrumental in the establishment of C.A.R.E., a support Group for the HIV infected and for Family C.A.R.E., a support group for the children, orphans and family members of the HIV+ community.

Programmes
The Team has also been instrumental in the establishment of two of the Public Health HIV/AIDS Programmes, the provision of ARV therapy to pregnant mothers to reduce the child transmission and the provision of occupational post exposure prophylaxis.

Research
Research programmes conducted by the AMT include:

• An assessment of Reticulose® - an immune system booster
• A clinical trial of SCH 99701 a new anti-fungal agent for oro-pharyngeal candidiasis
• A survey of Epitope typing of the local HIV as a prelude to vaccine development currently being done in collaboration with Harvard University.

The AIDS Management Team is the focal point for the Care and Support component of the National HIV/AIDS Programme and provides a supportive environment for the care of the HIV community. It also serves as a resource facility to attempt to solve such HIV related problems that may arise in the Hospital from time to time.