BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS (CBMP) and Scotiabank in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Health has announced a new regional HIV testing pilot program that will culminate with on-site HIV testing local branches of Scotiabank on June 27, 2008.

The following territories are participating in the initiative: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Maarten, and Jamaica.

On June 27, people will be provided the opportunity to visit select Scotiabank branches to participate in private, voluntary HIV counselling and testing conducted by trained and experienced personnel from the Ministry of Health.

While the Caribbean remains one of the hardest hit regions in the world by the AIDS epidemic – second only to Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of HIV prevalence, HIV testing is an important part of prevention and treatment efforts.

Studies show that those who learn they are HIV positive modify their behavior to reduce the risk of HIV transmission and early knowledge of HIV status is also important for linking those with HIV to medical care and services that can reduce morbidity and mortality and improve quality of life.

In order to build awareness about the testing day, the CBMP and their members from throughout the region will conduct a coordinated campaign of radio and television ads reaching tens of thousands of people.

Executive Director of the CBMP, Dr Allyson Leacock, noted that “this is an extremely important step in de-stigmatizing the very process of getting tested and knowing your status. As a region, our broadcast media executives in the CBMP have enabled life-saving messages through our LIVE UP campaign and have made HIV/AIDS a business priority. The media must be a critical vehicle to help our people accept HIV testing as a necessary and healthy process like any other medical check up. This mental paradigm shift will be a key contributor in reducing HIV infection in the region, as people make more informed choices and Live Up. Love. Protect. Respect themselves and each other.”

Scotiabank readily partnered with the CBMP in this initiative given their long term commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and their Info’ Life outreach in schools and their Pledge Programme.

Managing Director for Scotiabank Caribbean East, Stephen Cozier says, “Our leadership in corporate social responsibility in HIV/AIDS is a strategic priority. We consider it a regional imperative, given the Caribbean’s ranking behind sub-Saharan Africa for HIV infection rates. Given our regional footprint, Scotiabank considers it vital not only to support efforts towards changing mindsets regarding HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination but also in the critical area of testing primarily to reduce infection rates.”

Scotiabank Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Maarten, Anguilla and Jamaica have all signed on to this initiative, which has been fully endorsed by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). PANCAP has invited the Ministries of Health in the participating territories to take the lead in planning and organising the event locally with the provision of all necessary professional staff and commodities.

The Country Head of Scotiabank in each territory has committed to providing support for all logistical arrangements.