A GOVERNMENT body could soon be established and a national plan formulated to deal specifically with HIV/Aids-related issues.

The announcement could come as soon as today, said Michael Fox, executive director of the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation.

Health Minister Patrice Minors is to deliver a proclamation on World Aids Day before the House of Assembly this morning. The date will mark almost a year since former Health Minister Nelson Bascome announced his intention to establish such a committee on World Aids Day 2002.

"It's been a long time in the making," Mr. Fox said yesterday. "I'm confident in saying that the Ministry of Health is to look at a collective effort from Government; asking various departments to be part of the solution as we formulate a national Aids committee."

As the island prepares for the 16th commemoration of World Aids Day on Monday, Mr. Fox said he was encouraged to learn that the numbers of people becoming infected with HIV/Aids in Bermuda was on the decline.

Since 1982, when the Health Department first began keeping records, 482 people are known to have been infected with Aids, 382 of whom have died. Between January and September of this year, six new cases were diagnosed and five deaths recorded.

"I think it's a lot better today than it was," Mr. Fox said. "We had our peak years, in 1995 and 1997, but since then, we've had very few infections and very few deaths. And I think that's because the Department of Health has taken a very proactive provision of medical treatment for people living with HIV.

"But we still have a long way to go. The focus this year, globally, is stigma and discrimination. It's important to look at enacting policies and laws; to protect people (with HIV/Aids) from losing their jobs and give them access to education and housing."

A national committee would most likely be co-ordinated by Government, the director added.

"Government would take the lead and probably first do a short-term analysis of what's going on in the country and look at what various organisations are doing before developing a country plan to deal with HIV," he explained.

Outside of the Minister's statement, Mr. Fox said, World Aids Day would be commemorated with a proclamation ceremony on the grounds of Camden in the Botanical Gardens at 1 p.m.

At that time, red ribbons would be tied on a tree planted for those living with HIV and in memory of those who have died. In addition the winners of a kids' poster contest for National Aids day would be announced.

Simultaneously, the Bermuda College is to host its own events commemorating the day and at 7 p.m. the Anglican Cathedral is to hold an ecumenical, non-denominational candlelight service.

The events, Mr. Fox said, were organised by the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation, Star/The Lighthouse Foundation, the Ministry of Health, Government Information Services and other partners.