Health and wellness programs should be part of a global
initiative in the fight against AIDS. Linking well known
athletes all over the world together in a concerted
effort to raise awareness is one way to showcase the
power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and
to accomplish amazing feats. HIV/AIDS is not a stand-alone
issue involving only health professions but requiring
leadership and action from many sections of society.
Primary prevention efforts have shown success in stabilizing
or reducing HIV infection rates in countries such as
Senegal, Uganda, and Thailand, where they were introduced
early and there was strong political commitment, funding,
and broad coverage.
Scope of Program: To raise funds and
expand awareness of the AIDS pandemic through the use
of athletes as role models. The events will include
literature and discussions about how to prevent the
spread of AIDS and also of the need to help those afflicted
with AIDS and affected by it. The engagement of sports
people in the fight against HIV/AIDS will demonstrate
their commitment to social responsibilities and generate
resources for the management of the menace.
Background: The Sports People that
Care program in Ghana was launched in Dec of 2001 at
the University of Education at Winneba Ghana. The event
involved frank discussions about the AIDS Pandemic by
several experts in the university, a match up of men’s
and women’s college football teams, a quizshow
and a final wrap up event.
Current Focus: The upcoming Sports
People that Care event in Ghana will take place in November
of this year. A matchup has been arranged between two
leading football teams in Ghana Heart of Oaks and Liberty.
We are planning on expanding this program to Nigeria.
“Sports People that Care”, a brain child
of OVF-Ghana aims at bringing concerned sports clubs
and or people in the most common and patronized sports
disciplines into competitive game yearly on World
AIDS Day. This is expected to augment the process
of HIV/AIDS awareness creation by addressing large number
of persons present in one geographical locality and
through the media present. Most importantly, materials
including condoms will be distributed at the gates to
the most sexually productive group.
Objectives: The SPTC program was initiated
to promote the awareness of wellness management and
raise education needs for AIDS prevention and care.
This is a key component of oneVillage Initiative.
While a major goal of the prohect is to bring fans
together with the aim of educating and entertaining
them, we also anticipate that substantial funds will
be generated from the gate proceeds. These funds will
be deposited into a fund and managed by an independent
board to support the SUFIA Project
by OVF-Ghana. SUFIA means, “Support For
Infected and Affected”. This project
is specifically aimed at identifying and providing drugs
for the infected and basic human needs for the affected.
This will include food, educational and health needs,
clothes, shelter, etc.
Partners to Date:
oneVillage Foundation, Ghana
Ghana Football Association
National Sports Council, Ghana
Liberty Professionals Football Club
Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club
Awutu-Efutu Senya District Assembly
Long term Planning/vision: This program
will go towards funding a proactive approach to AIDS
by working with people to promote economic development
to benefit communities hard hit by AIDS. Our eventual
goal is to develop Unity Centers that will provide a
variety of services to the local communities including
education, promotion of sustainable practices, and probably
most important an instilling of a sense of pride in
the local culture, as well as pride in being a part
of the larger pan-African community. One of the services
offered will be to provide medical support to those
who have AIDS, those children orphaned because of AIDS
and to fund educational programs that include raising
awareness about how to prevent the spread of AIDS.
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