Caribbean Group Announces Plans to Host HIV/AIDS Conference

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States on Monday announced plans to host an HIV/AIDS workshop in June to address antiretroviral drug supply management, CMC/RedOrbit reports. The workshop, which will be organized by the OECS Secretariat's Pharmaceutical Procurement Service, will feature a panel of health experts, including HIV/AIDS specialists from the World Health Organization, the Management Sciences for Health, Cuba and Barbados. It will be sponsored by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, Pan American Health Organization and OECS' HIV/AIDS program unit, CMC/RedOrbit reports. According to organizers, the workshop aims to inform pharmacists about the latest antiretroviral treatment protocols. According to an OECS statement, the workshop also aims to encourage HIV-positive people to adhere to their treatment regiments and prevent the development of drug resistance. During the workshop, the panel will discuss a systematic approach to report adverse reactions to antiretrovirals, known as pharmacovigilance. According to the group, PPS -- which will serve as the region's pharmacovigilance center -- will establish a system of reporting adverse reaction to antiretrovirals at the workshop. According to PPS Director Frances Burnet, there also is a need to accurately predict antiretroviral supply needs. Christophe Rerat, sub-regional adviser for PAHO, said that a four-day session will be held at the workshop to address quantifying and predicting supply needs. PPS hopes the workshop will attract physicians, pharmacists, clinical care nurses and managers of central medical stores in OECS, CMC/RedOrbit reports. According to Burnet, the workshop must be supported by follow-up, country-level workshops (CMC/RedOrbit, 4/23).

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