Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

Activities at Kiambiu community slum were brought to a halt for some hours as attention was focused on the community football field where an extra ordinary football showdown pitting world’s most popular sports playing against world’s most common enemy.16 teams comprising of girls from different parts of Nairobi were armed with their football gears ready to play against each other but score against team HIV. The camaraderie of the teams and their quest in scoring against HIV was perfected by not only getting points for winning or drawing in their matches ,but also for participating in the Skillz Kenya activities as well as visiting VCT for HIV testing,TB screening and other services that added extra bonus points to their respective teams.

Off The Pitch Goals

Community members of Kiambiu and its environs were not only entertained by watching team football playing against team HIV, but they also took part supporting and rallying behind team football playing against team HIV.They also had an opportunity of scoring off the pitch by visiting VCT tents to know their HIV status and donating their bonus points to their respective favorite teams. For the first time ever, VAP were putting their new testing tools into work and a total of 181 girls and young women majority of them being first time testers were tested including community members who also benefited from the voluntary medical male circumcision services.Despite Kiambiu community being regarded as a high rising house hold name and a hub for producing best young footballers in the larger Kamukunji constituency, VAP was in the business of doubling up these skills to make Kiambiu football fraternity and the community as a whole to be well known in the attack and prevention of HIV both on and off the field.