Kick 4 Life recognised for role in tackling HIV
Kick 4 Life, has been named the annual “Best Performing HIV/AIDS Implementing Partner” by the National AIDS Commission. The award was made in recognition of the organisation's innovative education and health programme which is focused on using sport to communicate important messages about HIV prevention, healthy-living and knowing your status.
Sentebale nominated K4L for the award on the back of some excellent results throughout 2007, in particular the success of the innovative 'Test Your Team' campaign. The initiative, the first of its kind worldwide, consists of a series of football tournaments and activities, where HIV education, counselling and testing, as well as basic health screening and vaccinations are provided on site. Those individuals who are found to be positive are linked immediately to the nearest antiretroviral treatment clinic for further evaluation, treatment and care.
The campaign has been delivered in partnership with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Baylor Children's Medical Centre and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's 'Know Your Status' programme.
Speaking at the awards ceremony at the Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru on 18th February, K4L's Lesotho Director, Pete Fleming said: “We are extremely pleased to have received this award, which caps off an excellent year for Kick 4 Life in Lesotho. We now hope to build on this success and further develop and expand our delivery in the country. I would like to thank the many partner organisations who have supported our work so effectively over the last year, especially Sentebale and the Lesotho Football Association, and we look forward to continuing this over the coming twelve months.”
K4L UK Director, Steve Fleming, added: “The Test Your Team campaign is a groundbreaking public health initiative with proven results at attracting large numbers of at-risk and hard-to-reach individuals to test in an informal and entertaining setting. The events are able to create an environment of positive peer pressure to get tested for HIV, breaking down the stigma attached to knowing your status. We are obviously delighted with how well things are going in Lesotho.”
A representative from K4L has been invited to present at the Global Health Council's annual conference in Washington D.C in May 2008 to share results from their unique testing initiative and to discuss best practice in the use of sport in the fight against HIV.
