NAC appreciates power of football
The National Aids Commission (NAC) says it has come to appreciate that football is a powerful tool of reaching out to the masses, hence they have partnered FAM to use the game for an HIV and Aids Awareness Campaign.
NAC is the major sponsor of the ‘Protect the Goal’ campaign that FAM in conjunction with UNAids, is set to launch on Sunday at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, NAC specialist on social and behaviour Change Dr. Linje Manyozo said time has come for Malawi to accept the popularity of football and use it as a vehicle of disseminating important messages such as those about HIV and Aids.
“Football is played mainly by the youth and currently most of our projects are targeting the youth just like the Protect the Goal campaign; hence, our coming on board,” said Manyozo.
He added that their coming into football is a long-term partnership beyond the Protect the Goal campaign.
NAC alongside UNFPA, Oxfam, PSI and Macro are some of the partners of the project.
The launch will be spiced up with a ceremonial football match between Silver Strikers and Big Bullets.
Prior to that match, there will be a mini-tournament involving Under-17 secondary school teams from Lilongwe.
