In August, the Kaiser Family Foundation, in conjunction with the Ford Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, announced a $1 million media initiative to combat prejudice against HIV/AIDS patients throughout the Caribbean. The program trains broadcasters and journalists to improve reporting on the disease. The initiative is one of many underway in the region.

The Health Ministry of Jamaica launched "Getting on with Life," featuring two HIV-positive Jamaicans talking about the disease and discrimination. In Guyana, the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS is mobilizing faith-based groups to help combat stigma through the "Champions for Change II" program.

In 2005, the Caribbean broadcast of BBC World Service radio began carrying HIV/AIDS health information spots. The spots -- produced by BBC World Service Trust, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Viacom -- aim to combat stigma, promote responsible sexual behavior and reduce new infections.

The Caribbean Regional Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS advocates for better treatment, seeks a voice in new policies, and campaigns for greater rights for HIV/AIDS patients. The network includes POZ in Haiti, which has encouraged HIV openness.

The few Caribbean orphanages that accept HIV-positive children host visits from schoolchildren and dignitaries. Rainbow House in Haiti produced a DVD in Creole and French, broadcast on Haitian television, that shows positive stories of children with HIV. In Jamaica, Dare to Care orphanage hosts school groups.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indies Players Association will dedicate its involvement in the 2007 Cricket World Cup to HIV/AIDS issues. "Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS" focuses on preventing mother-to-child transmission; treating and caring for HIV-positive children; reducing the spread of HIV among youth; and protecting the rights of AIDS orphans.

In Guyana, UNICEF has mounted campaigns such as "Don't Dis Me," which features ads showing HIV-positive athletes embraced by teammates and HIV-infected children on a playground.

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