3^rd CHART-CCAS-CDC Meeting
1^st CCAS-CMLF Meeting

Draft Declaration

We, the Laboratory Directors and Clinicians who provide services in HIV diagnosis, care and treatment within the Caribbean, attending the 3^rd CHART-CCAS-CDC Annual Meeting held in Montego Bay Jamaica in August 2011:

Acknowledging the advances made within the region in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic with respect to prevention and improving access to care and treatment with support from regional partners

Cognisant of the strong tradition of co-operation that exists within the Caribbean

Acknowledging the efforts being made to improve the quality of laboratory services within the region

Fully convinced that establishing an enduring laboratory network will strengthen and expand HIV care and treatment towards the goals of universal access

Recognising the significant threat to sustainability resulting from the barriers presented by the lack of regulation of laboratory services and scarce human and financial resources

Resolve:

• To fully support the establishment of a Caribbean Laboratory network, which would serve to establish HIV- related laboratory services at various levels within and among participating countries.

• That this network will serve as the first step in regional efforts to establish laboratory networks to support the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

• That the benefits to be gained from such a network include inter alia the ability to provide on a sustainable basis:

  • Early diagnosis for persons with HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic infections     
  • Access to critical tests for monitoring of anti-retroviral therapy through access to appropriate testing at the national level and regional reference nodes.
  • Cost effective delivery of laboratory services to the region coupled with improvement of quality care to support the wider health services as they relate to non-communicable and chronic disease management.

We respectfully request Ministers of Health to take steps, in collaboration with other Ministerial colleagues in Finance, Education and Trade and Commerce, to:

• Establish the required national regulations to ensure quality of laboratory services at all levels including point of care.

• Ensure that efforts to improve laboratory services take place as a matter of priority in the context of overall national strategic plans

• Allocate the necessary resources to ensure continuous laboratory support for prevention, care and treatment services.

• Support development of the above-mentioned laboratory network through facilitating the necessary arrangements for reference node referrals including:

  • Endorsement of guiding principles for the network
  • Establishment of Memoranda of Understanding
  • Timely payment for services
  • Support for logistical arrangements (transport, Customs)

• Initiate discussions with appropriate Ministries and Customs Agencies aimed at preserving the integrity of temperature-sensitive biological samples and diagnostic reagents, through provision of cold-storage facilities and fast-track clearance procedures at shipping points.
• Ensure development and implementation of plans to transition from resources provided by regional partners to services fully-supported by national resources in order to ensure long-term sustainability.