THE WORKSHOP TARGETED DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICERS, FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONERS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDER
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs in partnership with the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) is continuing to advance HIV prevention in Saint Lucia through capacity building and education.
In an effort to push this agenda, the Ministry recently hosted a workshop titled “Sensitization of Healthcare Professionals and Private Sector Providers on the Use and Prescribing of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).” The workshop benefitted individuals both in the south and north of the island, with the training session being held on Monday August 4, 2025 at the Vieux-Fort Wellness Centre Conference Room and on Tuesday August 5, 2025 at the Ministry of Infrastructure’s Conference Room.
The workshop targeted District Medical Officers, Family Nurse Practitioners, and Private Sector Providers, with the aim of strengthening their knowledge of PrEP, a highly effective medication used to prevent HIV transmission. Participants explored proper prescribing practices, client communication strategies, and key indications for PrEP use.
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Coordinator in the Ministry of Health, Linda Berthier, highlighted the importance of empowering healthcare providers to confidently promote PrEP and support Saint Lucia’s broader HIV prevention goals.
“Our main objective is to make sure that every health care worker, every health care practitioner including our prescribing family nurse practitioners to feel empowered to be able to communicate the need for PREP and why, and our overall objective is to get the 95, 95, 95, which is our sustainable goals for 2030. 95 percent of our population will get tested, they will know their status, 95 percent will be on treatment and hopefully 95 percent will viral suppression. Now if we have our HIV clients who are virally suppressed that means they are not able to pass it on, transmit it and if we have those who are high risk on PREP like our sex workers, our MSM, men who have sex with men, vulnerable populations who are at highest risk for getting HIV, if we protect them with PREP which is a daily medication or an event based medication, then we have a plus on both ends and then we would be able to rightfully eradicate HIV.”
HIV Specialist and the workshop’s lead facilitator, Dr. Cleophas d’Auvergne emphasized on the need for training and advocacy at all levels of the healthcare system.
“Well I think it’s very important, first for capacity development, also for training so persons understand what HIV is, what prevention is, what drugs we use for prevention. It’s also important as far as an advocacy tool because the providers need to take ownership and push the process forward and they have to buy into it. So you have to provide them with the evidence so that they believe in the evidence and they believe that they can do it and it’s something that’s feasible and acceptable.”
By strengthening the knowledge base of local healthcare providers, the Ministry is reinforcing its commitment to inclusive and preventative healthcare, ensuring that Saint Lucians have access to life-saving tools and services that promote healthier futures for all.