PRIME MINISTER of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Denzil Douglas will deliver the feature address at next month's 14th Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Caribbean Awards for Excellence In Health Journalism.

Douglas, official spokesman on HIV/AIDS and other health-related matters for the CARICOM Heads of Government, will speak at the ceremony set for Sherbourne Conference Centre on November 3.

Among the new awards at this year's PAHO function will be the United Nations Development Fund For Women Award. Given for coverage of gender related issues, it includes a cash prize of US$1 500.

Some 23 awards will be made in the 26 available categories to journalists from countries in both the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

Organisers have also added two media fellowships to the mix of prizes which are being sponsored by the United States-based Kaiser Media Fellowships Programme and Panos Caribbean.

The Kaiser Fellowship will offer a short internship in health journalism in Washington, DC, next year. The Panos Caribbean Fellowship will cover a guided assignment at an international HIV/AIDS conference to be held in the summer of 2007.

Another first time presentation will be the Sagicor Award for non-chronic communicable diseases. Other awards include the Pan American Partnership Against HIV/AIDS for the best story on HIV/AIDS, as well as two United Nations Children's Fund awards for coverage of children's rights and child abuse issues. (KD)