UNAids, FAM to launch regional football leagues
UNAids is set to announce the sponsorship of regional Under-17 football leagues as part of its objectives to use soccer to fight HIV and Aids.
In an exclusive interview with The Nation on Saturday, UNAids country director Amakobe Caroline Sande said the leagues will act as mediums for disseminating HIV and Aids messages among the youth.
“Football is proving to be a great platform to reach youths on the dangers of HIV and Aids and also disseminating messages of prevention. We, in partnership with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), are launching the Under-17 leagues with the specific objectives of disseminating messages on HIV and Aids,” said Sande.
The launch of the leagues will be a follow-up to the launch of the joint FAM and UNAids Protect the Goal Campaign.
Sande said football is popular in Malawi and most of the young people play and follow matches, hence the plan to establish leagues across the country.
She said regional champions will face each other to find national champions.
UNAids is also working with the Sports Ministry, National Aids Commission (NAC) and Oxfam in the initiative.
“We are excited with the partnership with Ministry of Sports and FAM. We also thank partners such as NAC, PSI and Oxfam for coming on board. We are excited about working with these ambassadors on this campaign and utilising the mobilisation power of football,” she said.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) and UNAids have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in which UNAids will use sports to preach HIV and Aids messages through various programmes.
