The team's visit and activities will coincide with local happenings for Safer Sex Week 2009, being observed today to February 14 under the theme 'Put it on before you get it on'.

HIV/STI Senior Medical Officer Dr Kevin Harvey said: "The main aim of this visit was to provide an opportunity for MAC to meet the stakeholders in Jamaica and to explore opportunities for the provision of additional funding."

Hopeful

Harvey said he was hopeful that the Global Fund will continue to provide funding for HIV projects in Jamaica, especially at a time when the global economy is unstable.

Through the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, MAC AIDS Fund supported two HIV/AIDS clinics in Jamaica: the Black River Treatment Centre and the Comprehensive Care Clinic.

In addition, US$1 million was donated by the MAC AIDS Fund to the global fund, through 'Idol Gives Back', to support an HIV/AIDS programme in Jamaica.

Special funding

The purpose of 'Idol Gives Back', a special 'American Idol' fund-raising show held in April 2008, is to raise awareness and funds for organisations that provide relief programmes to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and developing countries.