HIV/AIDS campaign targets SA football fans - 12.05.10

Football is not necessarily the issue taking centre stage in South Africa this summer. The country is grappling with the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS and TB. With nearly 5.7 million people living with HIV, the country's health authorities are riding on the popularity of the World Cup to raise awareness of the threat posed by the two diseases and prevent their further spread.

One of the campaigns against HIV/AIDS is a project run by the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU). Under the banner 'Show Me Your Number', SAFPU is using the power of soccer to reach out to millions of sexually active South African youth with messages on HIV/AIDS. Ronny Zondi is a former South African national football player.

"Footballers, given the stardom status that they have, they can reach out to young people to test and know their status and to begin to deal with the reality of HIV. We do encourage players to be tested in public. I have tested several times in public and I don't have a problem about testing. It becomes a challenge to test publicly if you do not have information on HIV and AIDS. Because how do I test if I do not know how does HIV affect me?"

The campaign against HIV/AIDS is targeting population in the townships where football has a near fanatical following but also where HIV/AIDS is affecting many.

Show Me Your Number as the coordinating body for South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) Sport & Entertainment Sector is engaging with various sporting personalities, the entertainment industry, civil society and all South Africans to give all they have in ensuring that by June 2011, 15 million South Africans have tested for HIV and know their status. Plans are at advanced stages in terms of using the 2010 FIFA World Cup at stadia, fan parks, park and rides, public viewing areas, hospitality establishments and places of entertainment to promote the government's HIV Counselling and Testing campaign.

As Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe, the Deputy Secretary of SAFPU and Board member of FIFPro Division Africa says "we mesmerize the fans with our sublime football skills, we get people to talk and those moments of brilliance in the game, we stir emotions through goals scored or missed. Through the power of football we are determined to help the South African government and other governments in Africa to take responsibility and turn the tide against HIV".

 We all know the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Johannesburg on 11 June but beyond the final whistle on 11 July, South Africa is hoping that the World Cup will provide the impetus to stop new HIV infections.

(Sources: UN Radio - Patrick Maigua in Johannesburg, South Africa and Show Me Your Number Campaign http://www.yournumber.co.za/campaign.html)