Chairman of the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and Minister of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs, of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. John Maginley, acknowledged and thanked Brazil for its leadership role in social issues in this Hemisphere.

Minister Maginley was speaking on the first of a five-day mission by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) to examine Brazil's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to explore areas of technical cooperation between the CARICOM-led PANCAP and the South American country, in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

Brazil is highly regarded as a model in the fight against HIV/AIDS, recording among many other achievements, a 70 per cent reduction in AIDS-related deaths.

The Minister noted the tremendous importance of the mission to the people of CARICOM, which he said, "was demonstrated in part by the composition and size of [the] delegation. " CARICOM is keen on collaborating with Brazil in several areas, …we are indeed impressed by the levels of investment in health by the combination of Federal, State, and Municipal Authorities," he also said.

Speaking on behalf of CARICOM/PANCAP, the Minister noted that the mission would be the beginning of "structured and strengthened relations on these issues of importance to our countries."

CARICOM currently cooperates with Brazil at a technical level on issues relating to HIV/AIDS, and several Member States enjoy formal relations with that country.

CONTACT: Volderine Hackett
vhackett@caricom.org