1Monitoring and Evaluation of the HIV/AIDS/STD Control Program in Jamaica: An Analysis

Jamaica has had a National STD Control Program in place for over 60 years, the focus of which was to educate high-risk groups on the prevention of STDs. The first case of AIDS in Jamaica was reported in 1982 in a homosexual male who, having lived abroad, returned home to die. In 1985, AIDS was made a notifiable disease and screening of blood donors was introduced. The AIDS epidemic was defined as an HIV epidemic and the emphasis of control was put on prevention. Since HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, its control was incorporated into the STD control program. Jamaica established a comprehensive HIV/AIDS/STD Control Program in the late 1980s. The main components of this program are policy, planning and program management, STD case management, behaviour change communication, condom promotion, surveillance, research, laboratory strengthening, training and HIV/AIDS care, counseling and support. Monitoring and evaluation of the program components and achievements have always been a priority of the national program and much emphasis is placed on this. From its inception, the national program has incorporated monitoring and evaluation in all components of the program, and regular quarterly and annual meetings are held to discuss the strategies which have been use