GCOB JOINS U.S.-CARIBBEAN REGIONAL HIV/AIDS PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS NASSAU 000639 STATE FOR WHA/CAR BAHAMAS DESK OFFICER JOSLYN MACK-WILSON BRIDGETOWN FOR CDC/CCID/NCHHSTP FOR WILLIAM ABRAMS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHIV ECON POL PGOV BF SUBJECT: GCOB JOINS U.S.-CARIBBEAN REGIONAL HIV/AIDS PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK 1.(U) SUMMARY. Correspondence received today from the Ministry of Health confirms the GCOB's intention to join the Framework as a signatory partner. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) FULL TEXT: October 15, 2009 Charg d'Affaires Timothy Ziga Brown Embassy of the United State of America 42 Queen Street Nassau, The Bahamas Dear Charg d'Affaires Ziga Brown: Thank you for your recent communication regarding the U.S.-Caribbean Regional HIV and AIDS Partnership Framework. On behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I would like to convey my appreciation to the U.S. Government for the invitation to participate in this innovative health partnership. I am pleased to provide this letter confirming my government's intention to join the Framework as a signature partner. My government is prepared to sign the Framework document as an indication of our good faith commitment to partner with the U.S. Government over the next five years to strengthen The Bahamas national HIV and AIDS response. I understand that the specific U.S. Government and Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas commitments to achieve the goals and objectives of the Framework will be further defined jointly and to the mutual satisfaction of our respective governments during the deployment of the Partnership Framework Implementation Pln. Please include the following Bahamian officials in future discussion related to the development of the implementation plan: - Permanent Secretary - Ms. Camille F. Johnson - Chief Medical Officer - Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis - Director, National HIV/AIDS Programme - Dr. Perry Gomez - Director, Departmnt of Public Health - Dr. Pearl McMillan I lookforward to the achievement of tangible and lasting progress towards strengthening our country's natinal HIV and AIDS programs. Sincerely, (signaure) Hon. Hubert A. Minnis, MD, MP END TEXT. ZUNIGA-BROWN