On learning of the passing of Ms. Altenberg, HIV/AIDS Programme Manager, Mrs. Suzette Moses-Burton made this statement: "I am stunned beyond belief, it was just two weeks ago that Juanita and I communicated after learning that I had received the award named in her honour, words fail me at this time.
Our region has lost yet another true and brave warrior of the people, not just her work but her spirit will be missed, she was truly a wonderful woman and champion of the people. I am glad however that she lived to see the recognition and appreciation of her work in the naming of the award after her and it definitely has much greater significance to me now, as it not only serves as the recognition of my own humble efforts but as a permanent reminder for me of someone whom I greatly respected. My condolences to her family, friends and the communities she served who now all mourn her loss and celebrate her life."
The Board and Members of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) deeply regret the passing of Juanita Altenberg who has been a civil society pioneer in the Caribbean region in HIV Advocacy, Care, Treatment and Prevention for communities both hard hit by the HIV epidemic and by social stigma and exclusion.
She has been an important figure in the national response to HIV in Suriname. In addition to her service as the National Programme’s Prison Project Coordinator, the Counselling and Testing Coordinator, and the Sex Workers Project Coordinator, she served the national and regional HIV /AIDS responses as a member of Suriname’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a member of the Women’s Parliament Forum, Chairperson of the Konmandra ("Come Together") Network, and Board Member of an NGO sheltering sexually abused children.
As one of the founders, and subsequently Executive Director of the Stichting Maxi Linder Association (SMLA), a non-profit, non-governmental organization aimed at optimising the social, economic, mental and physical health and well-being of sex workers she has been instrumental in advocating for the rights of sex workers of all sexual orientations in Suriname.
She has contributed significantly to increased knowledge and awareness on the issues affecting other key populations through her research activities covering topics such as evaluating needs of youth and sex workers, and condom outreach. Her most recent research involved a behaviour survey among 250 sex workers and 300 men who have sex with men. Her work received special mention in the 2009 World AIDS Week feature (http://www.cvccoalition.org/pages/WAD.php).
Altenberg was a founding member of CVC and was its inaugural Co-Chair, a position she held for five years. In that capacity she was a dependable and hard working individual who worked hard to achieve the goals of the board. Additionally, she helped to coordinate the CVC Sex Work sector bringing to it her own many years of managing Maxi Linder. Even though her tenure on the Board was up, there was overwhelming agreement that she be made an honorary member.
Additionally CVC sought to celebrate her outstanding work in the region by awarding The Juanita Altenberg Award for Excellence which is designed to honour another stalwart in the region doing comparable work. This year’s winner is Suzette Moses Burton, HIV Programme Manager for St. Maarten and advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations (http://www.cvccoalition.org/pages/PressReleases/AltenbergAward.php).
In her release Juanita stated "I have received many different awards for the work I have done over the past fifteen years in HIV. Having this award named in my honour is one of the greatest forms of recognition that I have ever received. This is so because it is an award that is coming from my colleagues and is being awarded to my colleagues in civil society. What makes this special is the fact that many times those of us working in this sector go unrecognized and unnoticed for the work we do. The Juanita Altenberg Award for Excellence is designed to take care of that gap." (see full text below in Release)
With Juanita’s passing, the region has lost a true leader and champion of marginalized communities. She will be greatly missed by all members of the CVC family who have been privileged to have worked with her and who now reap the legacy of her pioneering work. We extend to the members of her family our sincere condolences.
RELEASE from Ms.Juanita Altenberg
I have received many different awards for the work I have done over the past fifteen years in HIV. Having this award named in my honour is one of the greatest forms of recognition that I have ever received. This is so because it is an award that is coming from my colleagues and is being awarded to my colleagues in civil society. What makes this special is the fact that many times those of us working in this sector go unrecognized and unnoticed for the work we do. The Juanita Altenberg Award for Excellence is designed to take care of that gap.
I have known Suzette Moses-Burton for many years and have admired her work in the HIV community. She has been fearless in demanding human rights to be at the core of all services to persons living with and affected by HIV. She has been a brave solider in many different spheres of life. I cannot forget when she made a speech at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok. The whole world sat up and listened and congratulated the Caribbean for producing such a high quality activist.
I am happy that she is the first recipient of the Juanita Altenberg Award for Excellence because she is deserving of it and will continue to do significant work. Congratulations Suzette. I am sorry that I cannot be there to award it to you in person during this World AIDS Day but I know that you will be a good ambassador for our issues.
All the very best.
Sincerely
Juanita Altenberg
On learning of the passing of Ms. Altenberg, HIV/AIDS Programme Manager, Mrs. Suzette Moses-Burton made this statement: "I am stunned beyond belief, it was just two weeks ago that Juanita and I communicated after learning that I had received the award named in her honour, words fail me at this time. Our region has lost yet another true and brave warrior of the people, not just her work but her spirit will be missed, she was truly a wonderful woman and champion of the people. I am glad however that she lived to see the recognition and appreciation of her work in the naming of the award after her and it definitely has much greater significance to me now, as it not only serves as the recognition of my own humble efforts but as a permanent reminder for me of someone whom I greatly respected. My condolences to her family, friends and the communities she served who now all mourn her loss and celebrate her life."