The National Well-Being & HIV Commission is on the hunt for greater partnerships.
Acting director Kim Bobb-Waithe said they needed as much help as possible and it made no sense for separate organisations to be doing the same things in silos.
“We definitely would like more engagement and more partners because we recognise that there may be other agencies who are already on the ground in the field. We would like to collaborate with them as it relates to reaching their key populations and where they take their usual programmes. So we definitely want more partners . . . especially since we have taken on the well-being mandate, where we are taking a holistic approach to treating everything within society,” she said.
The acting director was speaking to the media at a service on Sunday at Kingdom Empowerment New Testament Church of God, Cottage Land, St George, where the commission commemorated its 25th anniversary.
The theme of partnership was also emphasised by Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde in his address to the congregation. He pointed out that Government could not do it alone.
“Now more than ever, the commission remains a vital force in reducing stigma, advancing national well-being and working toward the elimination of HIV. As a department, we remain firmly committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all persons, promoting self-development and fostering inclusive, supportive environments that strengthen human development and social cohesion.
“However, Government alone cannot achieve these ambitious goals. Sustained collaboration among the private sector, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions like the church, community groups and citizens will remain essential in building healthier, safer and more resilient communities, while ensuring that we provide the support for those we consider the most vulnerable,” he said.
Key populations
Forde added that the private sector and civil society were “indispensable allies” in helping people live the “Barbadian dream”, but this would only be made possible once there was a partnership with God. He also praised the staff of the commission for their hard, selfless work and the organisation for its longevity.
Bobb-Waithe said they worked closely with the newly-instituted Social Empowerment Agency to reach key populations such as the elderly, and sought out critical community resource people to help spread the message of safe living.
She said they recognised there were still those who were reckless in their sexual behaviours, but there was a marked increase in those making positive choices.
“Because we are making education accessible to persons wherever we go, they are asking us to come more and more. They are welcoming the education, to guide them and sensitise them in terms of better behavioural practices.
“We are getting more requests for our Man Aware Programme and our Speak Sister Programme that speak to individual groupings. But we are also working through the [civil society organisations] who can even target other vulnerable groupings that they have access to,” she added. (CA)
