Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

Over 25 teams of both boys and girls from across Nairobi gathered at VAP’s Youth

Empowerment Hub ready to put their best feet forward to score for voluntary medical male

circumcision (VMMC) tournament dubbed as ‘M-Cut football tournament.With the aim of

promoting VMMC amongst adolescent boys,the mixed gender teams were in involved in a 6

aside football tournament that was integrated with on-site M-Cut activities conducted by VAP

Skillz coaches.Coaches were able to take through adolescent boys participants about the

advantages of VMMC as a one-time primary prevention intervention that reduces the risk of HIV

transmission from women to men by 60 percent.Adolescent boys were referred to various local

partnering health services facilities including clinics and hospital for circumcision uptake.

                                  Community HIV Forum

As a supplementary activity to promote voluntary medical male circumcision amongst

adolescent boys,HIV awareness forums conducted at the football site and its vicinity

simultaneously with the football event have been of great ingredients to the whole mix in the

tournament.Conducted by VAP’s top notch Skillz coaches with vast experience in delivering M-

Cut activities (football based VMMC integrated activities) and invited HIV professionals from

different partnering institutions both private and public including community health promoters

and like-minded organizations,participants engaged each other in an open and candid

discussions surrounding HIV and prevention measures including; HIV testing both conventional

way and usage of HIV Oral self-testing,advantage of voluntary medical male

circumcision ,PrEP,Condom use etc.Professionals were at hand to provide answers to critical

questions as VAP team also engaged in providing their sports advocacy role regarding HIV

prevention knowledge.