Building Bridges HIV/AIDS Conference Rescheduled for October 19-20

KINGSTON- September 24, 2004:

Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, the Building Bridges conference, "My Brother, My Sister, My Friend: The Many Faces Of HIV/AIDS," previously scheduled for September 16-17 has been rescheduled for October 19-20, 2004 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, Jamaica.  The conference schedule will remain the same.  Please contact Caroline Mahfood at 935-6000 ext. 2333 or mahfoodce@state.gov for questions and registration.

The conference is the last in the yearlong series of successful "Building Bridges: The Jamaica-Florida Connection" events intended to strengthen ties between the two regions.  Baptist Health of South Florida, the largest not-for-profit health care organization in South Florida, has partnered with the U.S. Embassy and medical professionals in Kingston to organize the event.

Over the course of two days, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other health professionals will listen to lectures from HIV/AIDS experts and participate in group discussions covering topics ranging from mother to child transmission (MTCT) to latest treatments for the disease. 

"Building Bridges" is an initiative of the United States Embassy and Ambassador Sue M. Cobb in cooperation with organizations in Jamaica and in Florida that seeks to foster social and economic development and facilitate contacts between Jamaica's and Florida's public and private sectors in areas of mutual interest.

The United States Embassy in Kingston wishes to inform the public that the Building Bridges HIV/AIDS conference, "My Brother, My Sister, My Friend: The Many Faces of HIV/AIDS," scheduled for September 16 & 17^th at the Hilton Hotel is postponed until further notice.  The accompanying Nurses' Forum scheduled for September 15^th at the U.S. Embassy's Office of Public Affairs is also postponed.