Due to poverty and limited educational and health resources in the country, the frequency of  HIV is increasing in Jamaica. CHAMAICA is developing programs geared to work at the  community level to deliver health information and raise awareness in order to empower  people to make healthy social/behavioral choices.   Information networking among Jamaican women is stronger than in Jamaican men.  Discussing HIV and other health/sexual issues is not common.  Because of these cultural  practices and the increasing rate of HIV in women, CHAMAICA initial efforts have been to  deliver their “healthy choices” program to groups of women from small communities.

CHAMAICA was founded in 2002 by Charles Clay II, who holds a clinical doctorate from the University of Southern California (USC) in physical therapy.  During numerous visits to  Jamaica starting in 2000, he developed a keen interest in their culture and health care  issues.  CHAMAICA and its Mission emerged as a result of Charles and his Jamaican wife Linneth’s desire to improve the health awareness of the Jamaican people.

CHAMAICA plans to bring these programs to groups of men and/or mixed gender groups in the future.  CHAMAICA’s vision is that program participants will share this information with friends and family and become “CHAMAICA ambassadors” for outreach events in the community. 

Jamaicans love music and it plays a central role in their life.  CHAMAICA is working with a Jamaican recording artist and has recorded “No More Epidemic”, CHAMAICA’s ‘musical theme song’, and other popular tunes.  This music will be used as a vehicle to generate awareness of CHAMAICA and promote its programs and disseminate its message.  CHAMAICA and its ambassadors will organize outreach activities - informal music events that will include CHAMAICA’s recording artists and ‘talent’ from the local community.  Flyers, CDs and DVDs with health information will be distributed, along with ‘recycled’ clothing brought from the US that is needed in these poor communities.

MISSION
CHAMAICA brings community-based health education programs to Jamaica in order to empower people to make healthy social/behavioral choices. 

CORE BELIEFS
1. Poverty and the lack of good education and affordable health care in Jamaica have brought about an increasing health crisis.
2. Of particular concern is the increase of HIV throughout the region, especially in women.
3. Due to current cultural practices, people are not likely to seek out and share health information.
4. Music is central in Jamaican life and culture and creates a bridge to people.
5. Providing health education programs that can have a positive and lasting impact on the health of the Jamaican community requires a tailored strategy that can break through these cultural and resource barriers.

PROGRAMS
Healthy Choices Program - dissemination of health information through meetings with small groups of women and mixed gender groups and the creation of “CHAMAICA Ambassadors” who communicate this information to friends and family.
      
Stage Shows - Community-based outreach activities organized by CHAMAICA and CHAMAICA Ambassadors that encompass informal music events will feature CHAMAICA’s recording artists and provide an opportunity to distribute informational flyers, CDs and DVDs and used clothing.

www.chamaica.org