UGANDA: ATHLETICS - Sports can be used as a tool to fight HIV-AIDS pandemic and to support work for the community

After visiting one of the biggest slums in Africa, five-times Olympic gold medal winner Michael Johnson arrived in Uganda and received a warm welcome as he led a visit to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation project which is at the forefront of the fight against AIDS in Uganda. During the visit to the Community Based AIDS Programme (COBAP) in Kampala, which addresses HIV/AIDS awareness, illiteracy, delinquency and health issues through the use of sport, the legendary 400 metres runner met young people, instructors and counsellors who are involved in the project, which Laureus has supported for five years. Johnson took part in a volleyball match with youngsters who attend the project, and watched a football match and a boxing exhibition. "I think that everyone should recognize as we talked about earlier, in answer to the question a few minutes ago, sports is a powerful tool for social change and the more we can convince our governments, African governments our government in America, You know its not just fair to criticise African governments when in America our government is cutting funding in schools as far as sports is concerned." Johnson said during a news conference. The COBAP programme was set up when social workers realised that sport could be an effective way to communicate with the population, particularly young people, and get healthcare messages about HIV / AIDS over to potential victims. "We would continue to work in partnership with COBAP to grow the project and continue, especially as we have seen success, you have seen the rate of aids go down, of HIV infection going down here, and that is a result of the good work that COBAP is doing ." Johnson added. People in the community feared loss of confidentiality and stigma in earlier days, it was also difficult to get the community to attend healthcare training as a means of halting the spread of disease. But the project set up football and netball activities and introduced healthcare workshops into half time, the project workers found that they had a captive audience. The programme has now grown to include athletics, bicycle racing, boxing, table tennis and volleyball and provides free HIV testing, counselling and support to those impacted by the disease. Sport has been used to help children work together towards a common goal, fostering a community spirit, which helps to improve relationships and contributes to good citizenship. Above all the project provides hope and care for those who have been alienated from their communities as a result of discrimination and taboo. Arguably the fastest human being over a distance of 400 metres,, Michael Johnson is remembered in Uganda for his classic 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medal win beating Uganda's Davis Kamoga to bronze medal. But the two athletes met for the first time in ten years and reflected on their popular race that put the Ugandan to climax of his career. Michael Johnson visited Kampala at the end of a three-day trip to East Africa, during which he also visited the Mathare Youth Sports Association project in Nairobi, Kenya with former French football captain Marcel Desailly. The Mathare Youth Sports Association, which uses football as the catalyst for social change, has been supported by Laureus since 2000. It has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. Based in one of the largest and poorest slums in Nairobi in which HIV/AIDS and other diseases are widespread, the project has pioneered the use of football as a tool to encourage co-operation and raise self-esteem in the young people of the community. Sub-Saharan Africa has about 10 percent of the world's population but 60 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS. More than 3 million Africans were infected with HIV in 2005, representing 64 percent of all new infections globally and more than in any previous year for the impoverished continent, according to UNAIDS, the lead U.N. agency against AIDS. However these figures have reduced after awareness was increased. Across sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 4.6 percent of young women aged 15 to 24 are infected with HIV, compared to 1.7 percent of young men, according to U.N. data.

ITN Source | October 27, 2006

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