Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Thousands of children across the Caribbean living with HIV/AIDS are to benefit from a joint programme being conducted by Kiwanis International and UNICEF.

Edward Kelly, Governor of Eastern Canada and the Caribbean District of Kiwanis International, made the disclosure earlier this week, during an interview with The Gleaner at a welcome reception at the Doctor's Cave Beach Club in Montego Bay, St. James.

The Kiwanis Club of Montego Freeport hosted the reception in honour of Governor Kelly and his wife, First Lady Marilyn.

"We have started an AIDS project, which is a strategic alliance with UNICEF and we are going to help thousands and thousands of children in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. It is a big project and it will focus on these three countries," Governor Kelly stated.

Little detail

While not releasing much of the details, he is assuring the relevant countries that the programme has already been launched.

"We are now setting guidelines to determine exactly how we are going to target certain areas to get the greatest impact for our money and to deal with the Jamaican children, specifically," the Kiwanian explained.

He said discussions are being held with the American Embassy to integrate its Caribbean AIDS programme with the Kiwanis/UNICEF programme, while the Canadian Embassy is assisting with grants from Canada to help with the project.