Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION

On 17th July 2010, Vijana Amani Pamoja – VAP hosted the 2nd annual Kick N Test VCT and TB screening soccer tournament. An exciting day of football, voluntary counselling, testing and TB screening. The tournament was organized under the theme of “jijue” (Swahili language, means ‘Know yourself’). A total of 16 teams both boys and girls of ages 13-18 years from all the walks of Eastland part of Nairobi converged at Bahati Community centre in readiness to participate in this unique 7-a-side street football tournament. The top two teams from each group played in the final to be crowned Kick N Test champions.

AN EXTRA BOOST OFF THE FIELD

What made this tournament special? The teams did not get points only for winning or drawing a match, but also for participating in the G-Pange HIV/AIDS Skillz, Stop TB activities visiting VCT and TB screening tents over the course of the day. In the event of a tie, these extra points were more important than the points from a match. Out of 220 participants 156 youth were tested on HIV/AIDS status and screened on TB. Every youth/player that was tested walked out with a certificate plus a bonus point to his/her team. One player from each age group was chosen as Soccer Champion, based on his/her performance in the tournament, and one as Spirit Champion, based on his/her enthusiasm in the G-Pange HIV/AIDS Skillz and Stop TB activities. A total of 23 community members got an opportunity for a VCT and TB screening services during the tournament.

FIELD CLASSROOM

During intervals and half time of both G-Pange HIV/AIDS Skillz and Stop TB activities, participants were sensitized on correlation between TB and HIV. The main theme was TB/HIV co-infection. Peer educators for both TB and HIV were at hand to conduct the activities and educate the participants. Each participant was given a pre-test to gauge their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and TB. Amongst the HIV topics were: • Definition of HIV • Modes of transmission • Signs and symptoms • Myths and facts about HIV • prevention and control of HIV Amongst the TB topics were: • Definition of TB • Modes of transmission • Signs and symptoms of TB • TB and HIV co-infection • Prevention and control of TB Finally a post-test was done which indicated that learning had taken place as the most of the children scored better marks than in the pre-test. Later on the Luis Figo Stop TB comic booklets were given out to all the participants.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Vijana Amani Pamoja would like to thank individual donors who have been donating towards our project and making this event a huge success.We are looking forward to continue changing the lives of the community that we serve through your support.We would also like you to read the attached document for more details of the tournament.

• Report_on_KNT2.pdf (PDF)