Kenya: Watching the World Cup ... and HIV. 15/6/10
It's an ambitious plan to encourage fans to get tested for HIV in a campaign targeting one million Kenyans between 15 and 64 years over 33 days.
By Joy Wanja
15 June 2010
Nairobi — Entertainment household names have launched a football team -- JitaLeo FC -- just as the World Cup gathers momentum in South Africa.
It is all part of an ambitious plan to encourage fans to get tested for HIV in a campaign targeting one million Kenyans between 15 and 64 years over 33 days.
It was in this spirit that Qfm's Roncliff Odit and Kazungu Matano (Otoyo) were on Tuesday part of this football team encouraging fans to get tested.
Others were Walter Mong'are (Nyambane), gospel singer Emmy Kosgei and Linda Muthama. According to Otoyo, the team will play against community teams and disseminate information on HIV throughout the 30-day global soccer event.
On Tuesday, JitaLeo duly played against Kibera Girls Team, but got its nose bloody after the girls thrashed them 3-2. The cheering crowd then settled down to enjoy the match between New Zealand and Slovakia, that ended in a draw, at the World Cup.
At the launch of the campaign dubbed Jitambue Leo, Ingia kwa Network, National Aids/STD Control Programme (Nascop) head Nicholas Muraguri said the World Cup presented an excellent opportunity to reach those who congregated at various spots to watch the games.
"Popular entertainment venues will be identified for pitching tents to offer HIV testing and counselling before and after the matches," Dr Muraguri told the Nation during the launch of the National campaign at Kang'ethe Primary School in Kibera, Nairobi.
According to Dr Muraguri, the man is more likely to influence couple-testing if tested. According to the 2007 Kenya Aids Indicator Survey, more females than males know their HIV status. And while the proportion of men who know their status has nearly doubled since 2003, that of women has tripled.
Twenty-eight-year-old Timothy Mwanzia, a father of one, said he would encourage his wife to get tested as well either during half time or at the end of the game. Mr Christopher Kamau, 23, praised the HIV testing campaign for "bringing both the matches and the testing service closer to the people".
"I will get tested as I wait for Portugal to play," said Mr Kamau, a businessman at Toi Market. "The VCT services are now closer to us and come at a time when we are relaxed," Mr Mwanzia said. The campaign hopes to test at least 33,000 people per day for 33 days giving a total of 1,089,000. Out of this, 80 per cent, 871,200 were expected be men, Dr Muraguri added.
"Knowledge of one's HIV status helps individuals who are not infected to protect themselves from infection and for those infected to access life-saving HIV care and treatment services," said Public Health assistant minister James Gesami at the launch on Tuesday.
HIV messages will also be aired before, during and after the matches. Joseph Kang'ethe, 28, says besides watching his favourite team, Ivory Coast, the campaign has come at an opportune time as part of a routine -- three times a year. "Know your status today and lead more informed and healthier lives," Mr Kang'ethe challenged his peers.