World Bank not happy with how Barbados used HIV funds

(Barbados Nation) The international financial institution which approved US$35 million in funding for Barbados’ HIV/AIDS fight is not very satisfied with what has been done so far.

The World Bank has reported that not only were available funds for implementing the 2008-2013 National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan barely being used, but there was also a lack of coordination between the National HIV/AIDS Commission (NHAC) and the Ministry of Health, and weak capacity and leadership at NHAC.

But NHAC director Jacqui Wiltshire-Gay has told the MIDWEEK NATION that by the time the next review rolls around in December, there should be much more progress to report.

“We have taken steps to put in place a process that will help us to reconfigure ourselves, understanding where the weak parts are and why the weak parts are there and how; having taken fresh guard, we can move forward from here to the end of the project,” she said.