HEALTH Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson says that the Government is in the process of preparing a proposal for US$19 million in grant aid towards financing the country’s HIV response programme to the middle of 2018.

“We are in the process of preparing our proposal for the grant to take effect in August 2015, ensuring a continuation of our HIV response to the middle of 2018,” he told the House of Representatives last Tuesday.

Ferguson explained that HIV remained on the post-2015 agenda, and his ministry is far advanced with the integration of aspects of the National HIV/STI Programme, with the National Family Planning Board (NFPB).

“We are now moving to address integration at the level of service delivery to ensure greater efficiency and coverage of those in need,” he said.

He added that the process that has been undertaken will be presented as a best practice at the International AIDS conference in Australia later this month.

A change management and communication plan has been developed to guide the integration. Organisational structure and HR manuals have also been developed and will be submitted for approval before the end of this fiscal year, and drafting instructions have been forwarded to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to facilitate the approved amendments of the NFPB Act.

“We have made many important gains with respect to HIV and AIDS,” Ferguson said. “Forty-three per cent of persons living with HIV are living longer and more productive lives.”

“We expect to meet the MDG goal with respect to the reduction of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and we are well on the way towards zero infections in this area,” he added.