KIWANIS D ISTRICT OF EASTERN CANADA AND THE CARIBBEAN and UNICEF in CANADA & the CARIBBEAN

1. KIWANIS DISTRICT OF EASTERN CANADA AND THE CARIBBEAN andUNICEF in CANADA & the CARIBBEAN A PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATION: Supporting children and young people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. EC & C Midyear Leadership Conference Saint Lucia, February 3, 2007

2. HIV/AIDS IN THE CARIBBEAN 2005 • 420,000 living with HIV • 41,000 new infections • 27,000 deaths

3. The Caribbean: the 2nd most affected region in the world: National prevalence rates: >3% - Haiti, Bahamas >2%  - Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago >1% - Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Suriname >0.2% -Cuba

4. SEX TRADE, PLUS CROSS-OVER INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION • 50% + infected adults: women • Adolescents and youth: • High vulnerability • Highest incidence of new infections (by age-group) • Infection trend: young and female

5. JAMAICA The good news: • Decrease in reported numbers of children with AIDS • Improved PMTCT

6. Jamaica cont’d The sobering news: • 22,000 people living with AIDS • **15,000 unaware of their status** • 6,000 AIDS orphans • Adolescents and youth: highest rates of infection

7. January – June 2006: 3 new confirmed cases per day • 10% in under 18s • 20% in 20-29 age group • Infection risk to adolescent girls is 3 times adolescent boys; + pressure & force • 1 in 2 adolescents are sexually active, most starting before 15 years of age

9. CHILDREN AND YOUTH Complicating risk factors: • Poverty, poor nutrition, lack of schooling, non- supportive environments • Stigma and discrimination  exclusion and marginalization

10. Supportive factors: • Children & young people respond well to counselling and mentoring • Families are willing to foster unrelated children, especially with financial support • Targeted prevention and treatment work

11. A COMPELLING CASE FOR ACTION

12. THE PROPOSAL • Country focus or dispersed coverage? • The case for focus: impact, results, visibility, advocacy • eg.Jamaica and Haiti: Largest populations, high prevalence rates

13. CAMPAIGN/INTERVENTION COMPONENTS 1. Primary prevention (primarily Jamaica) • youth information outreach • mobile health promotion and HIV/AIDS services 2. Orphans and vulnerable children (primarily Jamaica): • income generating activities/household budget supplementation • schooling: registration and support (costs: transport, school lunch, uniforms) • parenting training/counselling • sensitizing care workers, guidance counsellors, community influencers on needs/rights of OVCs

14. CAMPAIGN/INTERVENTION COMPONENTS (cont’d) 3. Paediatric treatment and care (primarily Haiti) • working with community/non-governmental organisations • early testing, diagnosis, provision of drugs and monitoring • screening for HIV at 3 months or 3 months after weaning • increased numbers of children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) • supplementary feeding to children receiving HAART • training of health staff in paediatric AIDS management

15. GETTING RESULTS: INTERVENTION PARTNERSHIPS • Community organizations • Governmental, municipal, local agencies

16. WHY KIWANIS AND UNICEF? • IDD history together • Combined outreach & influence • Shared child/youth focus • UNICEF: • fund-raising capacity in Canada • Caribbean presence/partnerships

18. CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE: THE MISSING FACE OF AIDS

19. IF WE AGREE IN PRINCIPLE, WHAT NEXT? Finalizing the campaign: joint working group? • develop campaign fundraising targets, communication materials and messages • agree on fundraising strategies, roles (joint, distinct) • explore/obtain matching and lead gifts, e.g. major donors; CIDA • design website(s) and linkages • create celebrity strategy • establish political buy-in • prepare launch and post-launch steps • spread the message: Kiwanis & UNICEF networks.  

20. MERCI - THANK YOU