White House to Hold a National HIV/AIDS Community Discussion in the Virgin Islands

Community conversations will support the development of a National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Contact: Aesha Duval at Aesha.duval@mail.house.gov or (340) 778-5900

Virgin Islands residents will have an opportunity to take part in the long-awaited National AIDS strategy when the White House hosts a community discussion by teleconference on St. Thomas and St. Croix on Monday, Nov. 9.

The meeting, to be teleconferenced by the University of the Virgin Islands, is one of a series of events being held across the country this year by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) in an effort to fulfill President Obama’s pledge to develop a plan for stopping the spread of HIV in the United States and improving the health of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Communities of color, to include the U.S. Virgin Islands, account for a third of the total U.S. population, and more than 70 percent of new AIDS cases and 67% of people currently living with HIV/AIDS, said Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands has the second highest AIDS case rate in the country,” said Christensen. “So, I am extremely glad that the White House is coming to the Virgin Islands to hear first-hand from those on the front lines about what the needs and challenges are for persons living with HIV/AIDS and how the forthcoming National HIV/AIDS Elimination Plan can help curb the epidemic in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as on the mainland.”

Jeffrey S. Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy will host the community discussions with key stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including community-based service providers, case managers, doctors, nurses, community leaders, advocates, persons living with HIV/AIDS, their families and others. The goal of the discussions will be to hear directly from the public on what they think the National Strategy should look like.

“Finally we are going to be heard as a community,” said Sandra Phaire, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Community AIDS Resources & Education Inc. The organization, also known as VICARE, serves as a community based resource and referral agency for persons living with HIV/AIDS infection and who are residents of the US Virgin Islands.
“For far too long our community has been number two in the country,” said Phaire. “I am so happy that finally our consumers are going to be heard. They have an opportunity to speak about their feelings and what they are going through. I am confident that we can make the necessary changes that will free our community of HIV/AIDS.”

Christensen encouraged all interested parties to participate in the discussions which will be simulcast between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Persons can also submit comments through the following website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/.

Following are details about the Virgin Islands meeting:


VIRGIN ISLANDS HIV/AIDS Community Discussion

WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: At University of the Virgin Islands - St. Thomas
Administration and Conference Center / Meeting Room: ACC 142-1B & 146-1A
No. 2 John Brewer’s Bay
St. Thomas, USVI

Teleconference Location (this is a live simulcast to allow remote participation):
University of the Virgin Islands - St. Croix
North West Wing Great Hall / Meeting Room: NWW 134, 135, 136 (Great Hall)
No. 2 Golden Grove
St. Croix, USVI

CONTACT: (For Press Interviews) Shin Inouye of White House Media Affairs Office, via e-mail Sinouye@who.eop.gov .

OR

Jason J. Henry
Territorial HIV Prevention Coordinator
STD/HIV/TB Program
Virgin Islands Department of Health
3500 Est. Richmond
Charles Harwood Medical Complex
St. Croix USVI 00820
Tel: 340-773-1311 ext. 3060/3061
jason.henry@usvi-doh.org


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