THE Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) says it is deeply saddened that a number of great friends in the fight against HIV may have been lost in the devastating crash of Malaysia flight MH17 last week.

“I am deeply shocked by this tragic news. I pray for the family of our colleagues and friends who were on flight MH17”, PANCAP’s Coordinating Unit director, Dereck Springer, stated on the PANCAP Facebook page on Monday.

Up to 100 delegates travelling to this week’s 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia may have been among those lost on flight MH17. Representatives, activists, health workers, youth delegates, medical professionals, government leaders, researchers, community workers and others from around the world were scheduled to attend.

While reports are still unconfirmed, it has been stated that among the passengers were former president of the International AIDS Society and Dutch HIV researcher Dr Joep Lange; AIDS lobbyist Pim de Kuije and WHO media adviser, Glenn Thomas.

PANCAP said just as its members are united in their efforts against HIV, they are united today in mourning for the loss of their colleagues and friends.

According to PANCAP, although details of the crash and the lives that were lost remain unclear, it is certain that the loss of those committed to the betterment of humanity and the lives of people worldwide affected by HIV will be felt for years to come.

(CARICOM Secretariat)