Cric-Crac - the UWI HARP Story

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The UWI HARP Story - Based on documentary evidence, reflections of key programme personnel and interviews with students at Mona.
Acknowledgements
This version of the story of UWI HARP (although relatively simple and straightforward) could not have been told if the various sources were not available or did not cooperate.
Preface
The rate of growth of the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean region in the late 1990s and the related epidemiology of AIDS were reasons for concern and immediate action among private and public entities and institutions in the Caribbean region. If they did not act immediately, sooner or later countries in the region would be overwhelmed by the epidemic.
The History
Like any good Caribbean story, we will begin with ….. Once upon a time, on one of the three campuses of the University of the West Indies, a small programme was born ……………….
UWI HARP is Born.
A short gestation? Not really!
Mission …….. Is it Possible?
The Mission: Help build and use the capacities of the University in order to add to an interdisciplinary understanding of HIV/AIDS, to contribute substantially to HIV/AIDS prevention and care and to help mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
A name, a name. We need a name!!
Who says university professors are stuffy?? Or did you say ‘Nutty’?
Structure and Reporting Relationships
UWI HARP is implemented through three campus teams linked directly to the Vice-Chancellery through the Lead Coordinator named by the Vice Chancellor.
Achievements
The list of the three most important achievements of UWI HARP changes depending on whom one speaks with. However, what becomes clear on analysis is that, the deliverables under the SIRHASC project, defined in this story as Training for Behaviour Change and Capacity Building, tend to be at the top of the list.