2009 Speeches
Remarks - Opening of the Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Centre Workshop for Setting up an Adolescent Program for HIV Positive Teens
British Colonial Hilton Hotel
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Honorable Minister for Health and Social Development Hubert Minnis, Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Centre President Camille Barnett, And Executive Director Juliet Barrett; ladies and gentlemen, good morning and thank you for inviting me to say a few words at the opening of this wonderful workshop.
The U.S. Embassy is privileged to be a part of your mission to care for those members of society who are especially vulnerable – HIV-positive adolescents. We are inspired by your hard work on behalf of those who are living with HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas and we hope that this workshop gives each and every one of you the tools you need to fight the battle against stigma and discrimination toward HIV-positive young people.
This foundation is one of the first recipients of the Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS grants and was selected this year because programs like this one have an immediate and tangible impact on the quality of people’s lives. The U.S. is committed to supporting HIV/AIDS projects.
The fight against global HIV/AIDS is central to my country’s foreign policy and to our global health agenda as outlined by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
This Administration’s Global Health Initiative is a continuation of my country’s leadership in the global effort to address health priorities like HIV/AIDS. A program like this one is a symbol of the strong partnership between the United States and The Bahamas in our mutual goal to educate the public about this terrible disease and provide help to those in need.
We hope to continue this partnership and are pleased to note the increasing United States financial support for HIV/AIDS programs in the Caribbean. The U.S. Embassy looks forward to supporting more initiatives in The Bahamas.
I am confident that together, we can achieve a greater awareness of HIV/AIDS issues. We would like once more to thank The Bahamas AIDS Foundation and all of you for your time, your energy and your efforts.
Thank you.