UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Anna Marzec-Boguslawska, Director of the National AIDS Centre of Poland, with senior staff from the National AIDS Centre and UNAIDS. Credit: National AIDS Centre, Poland.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé arrived in Warsaw, Poland, on 8 June for a day-long mission to meet with national stakeholders in the AIDS response and participate in the inauguration of UEFA Euro 2012, the European football championship.

The visit kicked off with a lively exchange at the National AIDS Centre between the UNAIDS Executive Director, civil society advocates, people living with HIV and government representatives. During the discussions, Mr Sidibé commended the government of Poland for providing free antiretroviral treatment to all who are eligible and for its success in keeping national HIV prevalence low.

He expressed concern, however, over the growing regional epidemic. An estimated 1.4 million people were living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 2009, almost triple the number reported in 2000. In most countries across the region, the epidemic is concentrated among key populations, particularly people who inject drugs, sex workers and men who have sex with men.

Emphasizing that vulnerable populations benefit from only a fraction of HIV prevention resources, civil society representatives called on Mr Sidibé to advocate in his meetings with government officials for strategically targeted prevention investments. They underscored the need for better coordination among stakeholders in the national AIDS response—specifically among government ministries.

Mr Sidibé noted that Euro 2012 provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the HIV epidemic among a large audience. “Across Europe, football plays an important role in the lives of millions of individual fans, communities, and nations. UNAIDS is urging all players and fans to play safe and be safe—both on and off the pitch,” said Mr Sidibé.

The UNAIDS Executive Director praised Poland’s National AIDS Centre for launching “Fair Play”—an advocacy campaign, timed with Euro 2012, that focuses on HIV prevention. Through the campaign, football fans are encouraged to enjoy the games and protect themselves from HIV.

Poland is the current chair of UNAIDS’ Programme Coordinating Board, the organization’s governing body.

Members of the West Indies Cricket Team, photographed with children who participated in the Think Wise coaching clinic and Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team.
Credit: UNAIDS

Hosting a group of local students at the Kensington Oval stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados, the West Indies Cricket Team expressed solidarity with the UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections among children. The coaching clinic was held as part of the Think Wise Campaign, a global partnership that uses the power and reach of cricket to address key HIV-related issues.

"We have the medicines, we have the knowledge. There is no need for any Caribbean child to be born with HIV,” said West Indies Captain Darren Sammy, who endorsed the call for preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and ensuring access to life-saving treatment for HIV-positive women. “There is no need to treat anyone any differently because of their HIV status," he added.

The Think Wise Campaign—a partnership between UNAIDS, UNICEF, the International Cricket Council and the Global Media AIDS Initiative—places particular emphasis on HIV prevention as well as on the education and empowerment of children. Engaging young people in the HIV response was the focus of the coaching session in Bridgetown, which included a discussion around HIV.

"Through this event, the children have loved meeting their favourite players and learning some new skills. At the same time, they have gained awareness about HIV and the importance of treating all people with equal respect and compassion,” said Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team. “Like the cricketers, these children can be agents of change in their families, communities and schools."

A regional Elimination Initiative—led by the Pan American Health Organization—aims to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2015. The Eastern Caribbean, with its smaller disease burden, is expected to reach the target far sooner.

West Indies Cricket Captain, Darren Sammy, participates in media interviews with Dr Ernest Massiah, Director of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, at the Kensington Oval stadium in Barbados.
Credit: UNAIDS

At present, mother-to-child transmission of HIV accounts for between 8 and 10 per cent of all HIV infections in the Caribbean. However, some Caribbean countries have either achieved or are close to achieving elimination targets; between 2007 and 2010, for example, there were no new HIV infections recorded among babies in Barbados.

Widespread stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV remains a challenge for PMTCT programmes across the region. Stigma and the fear of unfair treatment prevent some HIV-positive mothers from accessing early antenatal care, abstaining from breastfeeding or making their babies available for follow-up testing and care.

"The Eastern Caribbean can eliminate mother-to-child transmission because we have the means to prevent it," Dr Massiah stressed. "West Indian people can play a part by addressing the negative attitudes and judgments associated with HIV. This would allow mothers across our region to feel safe and confident about accessing life-saving testing, treatment, care and support."

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba with Pelé during the “CAN without AIDS” campaign event.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

On 10 February 2012, Brazilian football legend Pelé took thousands of young people by storm during a beach soccer tournament organized in Gabon alongside the 2012 Coupe d’Afrique des Nations (or “CAN”). After the tournament, “O Rei” Pele joined President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and the First Lady at a beach event organized as part of the “CAN without AIDS” campaign. 

The campaign, launched by the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation—a charitable organization run by Gabon’s First Lady—uses sports as a platform to reach millions of people with messages on HIV prevention across Africa, particularly youth. The campaign received support from UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé as well as Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o and Didier Ovono, captain of Gabon’s national football team.

The beach tournament brought together more than 400 young Gabonese to kick off the last round of the youth-focused AIDS campaign events. Pelé greeted the cheering crowds who were wearing T-shirts with HIV prevention messages.

The host of the event elaborated on the UNAIDS vision of “three zeroes”—Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths—while volunteers were distributing condoms and information on HIV. Gabon has an HIV prevalence of 3.5% among young women aged 15 to 24 and 1.4% among young men of the same age.

“I am ever grateful to the First Lady for her leadership in bringing together national authorities, celebrities and young people to share HIV prevention messages through sport,” said Salvator Niyonzima, UNAIDS Country Coordinator. “UNAIDS will continue to work with the First Lady’s Foundation beyond the CAN 2012 tournament to make the “three zeroes” vision a reality in Gabon,” he added.

First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and young people doing the “three zeroes” sign.
Credit: Josh Ponte & David Ignaszewski

Winners of the tournament were rewarded with front seats at the final of the 2012 African cup, where the president of Gabon had unveiled a statue representing Pelé's bust and dedicated it to him.

Timed with the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the “CAN without AIDS” campaign reached more than 43 000 local people, of which more than 1000 took free HIV screening tests. The campaign will now focus, with support from UNAIDS, on the national HIV response in Gabon, with each quarter of the year dedicated to one of the “three zeroes.”

Korean footballer Myung-Bo Hon with the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. Seoul, 28 November 2011.

SEOUL, Republic of Korea, 28 November 2011— Iconic Korean football star, Myung-Bo Hong, was appointed as a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador during a press conference held at Yonsei University in Seoul. In this capacity, Myung-Bo Hong will raise awareness on HIV prevention among young people and help break down the barriers of stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV, particularly within the Republic of Korea and across Asia.

“As one of the greatest Asian football players of all time, Myung-Bo Hong will be a compelling advocate on HIV prevention for young people and football fans worldwide,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “I am honoured UNAIDS will work with such an inspiring athlete to disseminate vital messages about HIV to young people.”

“Accelerated efforts are needed on HIV to ensure zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero deaths,” said Mr Byeongleul Jun, Director of the Korean Centre for Disease Control and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare. “The involvement of a sporting hero as great as Myung-Bo Hong can greatly advance this important agenda and make a difference in the AIDS response around the world,” he said.

Myung-Bo Hong joins prominent individuals from the world of arts, science, literature, entertainment as an advocate for zero new HIV infections and zero discrimination. Other UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors include Naomi Watts, Annie Lennox, and Michael Ballack.

“People living with HIV are people like you and me,” said Myung-Bo Hong during the appointment ceremony. “They have rights and should not be discriminated against. I am delighted to be working with UNAIDS to use sport to help bring an end to AIDS.”

Currently Korea’s National Olympic Football Team Manager, Myung-Bo Hong, played for the country’s national football team in four consecutive World Cups (1990-2002) and was chosen among the “FIFA 100”, a selection of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world made by Brazilian football legend Pelé. He was the first Asian footballer to receive FIFA’s World Cup Bronze Ball in 2002.

“We are very glad UNAIDS has recognized Myung-Bo Hong as both a sports celebrity and a prominent humanitarian. Mr. Hong has established a great level of influence in football worldwide, and his appointment as the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador has great potential to make a critical push against HIV infections and discrimination,” said Mr Soo-Gil Park, President of World Federation of United Nations Associations.

Globally there are more than 5 million young people living with HIV and every day 2400 young people become infected with the virus. Although young people are increasingly learning how to protect themselves, only one-third of young people globally have accurate and comprehensive knowledge of how to protect themselves from HIV.

(L to R) Natalya Lukyanova, Red Card Campaign Coordinator, Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian National Team football player, Dr Ani Shakarishvili, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Ukraine
Credit: UNAIDS/K.Gladka

The ‘Give AIDS the red card’ campaign, an initiative that uses the power of football to eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, kicked off on Thursday 27 October in Ukraine. Organized by the Government of Ukraine, the new campaign was launched within the framework of the European Football Championship 2012 to be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland in summer 2012.

“To reach out to young people, we speak ‘football language’ because football unites us regardless of our social, gender, ethnic or religious differences”, said Ravil Safiullin, Head of the State Service for Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

The new campaign also aims to promote safe sex and condom use along with addressing gender inequality, sexual exploitation, and domestic violence. To that end, images of celebrities with the campaign messages will be place on billboards and on metro stations around Kiev and the other country regions. Posters will also be distributed in educational institutions as well as railway stations. Finally, public service announcements will be broadcasted via national media.

The Red Card campaign starts simultaneously in all regions of the country and is supported by the football star Andriy Shevchenko and other celebrities such as singers Ani Lorak and Gaitana and the World’s Strongman 2004 Vasyl’ Virastyuk.  UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNFPA as well as civil society organizations such as the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine and La Strada are also supporting the campaign.

“This initiative emphasizes the growing commitment of the Government of Ukraine and the society at large to tackle key social problems facing the country,” said Dr Ani Shakarishvili, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Ukraine. “We hope that the campaign will help remove existing barriers to an effective national AIDS response and it will bring Ukraine closer to the UNAIDS vision of Zero new HIV infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths and Zero discrimination”.

The HIV epidemic continues to grow in Ukraine and it has become the most severe of whole of Europe. Only one third of the estimated 350 000 people currently living with HIV is aware of their status and has access to HIV services. Furthermore, only 26 000 people living with HIV are currently on treatment. According to the Stigma Index research conducted in 2010, more than half of Ukrainians living with HIV are victims of some sort of stigma and discrimination.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé poses for a team photo with young people taking part in one of the Grassroots Soccer skills building sessions. Capetown, 4 May 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/AFP Photo G. Guercia

Grassroot Soccer announced on Wednesday the appointment of the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé as a member of its Global Board of Directors. Grassroot Soccer is an international nonprofit organization that uses the power of soccer to prevent new HIV infections among youth in Africa.

“Learning through sport is one of the most effective ways of building confidence and raising HIV awareness,” said Mr. Sidibé. “Grassroot Soccer is making a positive difference in the lives of young people across Africa and I am very proud to be a part of this important movement.”

The non-profit organization also appointed the former CEO of Product (RED) Susan Smith Ellis as a member of its Board.

“In our first ten years, we’ve provided more than 450,000 young people in Africa with vital information on HIV prevention and life skills,” said Thomas Clark, MD, Grassroot Soccer Founder and CEO.  “With the expertise and passion of these new board members to compliment our team, we’re confident we will reach our goal of graduating one million youth through our program by the World Cup 2014, and empowering whole communities to live more healthy productive lives, with soccer as the hook.”

Grassroot Soccer has programs in 10 African countries with flagship sites in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Founded in 2002 by four professional soccer players, Grassroot Soccer engages professional African football players, coaches, teachers and peer educators in several countries to deliver an interactive HIV prevention and life skills curriculum to youth. Topics include making healthy decisions, avoiding risk, building support networks, reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing knowledge about testing and treatment, addressing gender issues and assessing values.

Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Mozambique’s Minister of Youth and Sports H.E. Pedrito Fuleda Caetano with athletes from various African countries who signed the Give AIDS the Red Card initiative.
Credit: UNAIDS/A.Joe

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Mozambique’s Minister of Youth and Sports H.E. Pedrito Fuleda Caetano launched the UNAIDS initiative Give AIDS the Red Card. The announcement was made on the eve of the 10^th All-Africa Games, the continent’s largest multi-sports tournament bringing together more than 5 000 athletes.

“Reducing the numbers of new HIV infections is nowhere more imperative or urgent than in Africa,” said Mr Sidibé. “The All-Africa Games are a great occasion to raise awareness about intensifying efforts to reach UNAIDS’ vision of Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths.”

The launch took place under the patronage of Dr. Aires Aly Bonifácio, Prime Minister of Mozambique. Attending the launch were former Mozambican President Joaquim Alberto Chissano as well as many leading athletes.

The UNAIDS Give AIDS the Red Card campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to strengthen the response to HIV and accelerate progress across Africa. The campaign was introduced at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with the support of 28 team captains. Captains of six teams at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany also endorsed the initiative.

At the Maputo event, heads of national delegations to the Games, including presidents of National Olympic Committees and Ministers of Sport from 47 participating countries, agreed to sign a pledge to support the Give AIDS the Red Card campaign for Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, and Zero AIDS-related deaths.

By signing the pledge, each delegation is agreeing to set up a national plan of action on the Give AIDS the Red Card campaign in consultation with UNAIDS offices upon return to their respective countries.

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon will be the next platform for pan-African mobilization of the initiative.

Youth participation critical to Mozambique’s AIDS response

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (left) and Mozambique’s Minister of Youth and Sports H.E. Pedrito Fuleda Caetano launched the UNAIDS initiative Give AIDS the Red Card.
Credit: UNAIDS/A.Joe

The importance of youth and sporting community participation in the response to AIDS was emphasized by the UNAIDS Executive Director during his meeting with Mozambique’s Minister of Youth and Sports, H.E. Pedrito Fuleda Caetano.

Mr Sidibé asked the Ministry to use the All-Africa Games to promote this initiative across all sports disciplines during the Games and beyond. Mr Sidibé emphasised that “sport events should be viewed as key platforms to link with other social movements to drive the prevention revolution including reducing vulnerability of women and girls, scaling-up HIV testing and counselling, reduction of multiple partnership and accelerating medical male circumcision.”

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region most affected by HIV, with an estimated 22.5 million people living with HIV in the region representing 68% of the global total. However significant progress is being made in the region. In 22 countries, the HIV incidence rate has declined by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009.

GENEVA, 24 June 2011—Captains of national football teams competing in the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 soccer championship in Germany are signing up to the Give AIDS the Red Card appeal in support of a global plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015. The Give AIDS the Red Card appeal, which was launched by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) one year ago at the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, uses the power and outreach of football to unite the world around stopping new HIV infections in children.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “As the most important international competition in women's football, this tournament provides a platform to raise global awareness about the campaign to keep babies from becoming infected with HIV, and their mothers from dying from AIDS.”

Every day more than 1000 babies are born with HIV. However with access to HIV counseling and testing for pregnant women and their partners, and treatment when needed, the risk of transmission can be brought down to less than 5%.

On signing the pledge, team captains appeal to football players and fans across the world to ‘celebrate life and support the global campaign to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV’.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 is taking place from 26 June to 17 July. So far five captains have signed the appeal; Faye White (England), Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Rebecca Smith (New Zealand), Ingvild Stensland (Norway), and Christie Rampone (United States).

“One of the great things about representing our country on the big stages is the opportunity for us to support causes we care about,” said U.S. Women’s World Cup Team captain Christie Rampone. “I signed onto a global campaign called Give AIDS the Red Card which helps to generate political action towards ending the AIDS epidemic among babies and young children around the world. I am confident about linking this noble cause with the game we all cherish.”

Rampone, who is among the more experienced U.S. players and will be playing in her fourth World Cup added, “UNAIDS asked the U.S. soccer team to help lead this campaign around the world, and we are happy to lend our support on a global stage to a global problem. The UN wants to end pediatric AIDS by 2015 and so do we!”

The captains of the other competing teams, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Japan, DPR Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, and Sweden, will also be encouraged to become “Red Card Advocates” by signing the appeal during the tournament and publicize global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.

There are 34 million people globally living with HIV, of whom 22.5 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite progress towards the goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children , in 2009 alone there were 370,000 children born with HIV, bringing to 2.5 million the total number of children under 15 living with HIV.

The 2011 Women’s World Cup is one of several high-profile football championships, including the 2012 African Nations Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, that can provide platforms for raising wide awareness about the campaign to eliminate HIV in children.



UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé poses for a team photo with the young people taking part in the Skillz Street practice session at the Football for Hope Centre. Capetown, 4 May 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/AFP Photo G. Guercia

During the meeting of the UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention, which is taking place in South Africa this week, commissioners took time out to visit the Grassroot Soccer initiative in Capetown.

The commissioners visited the Football for Hope Centre during a Skillz Street practice session involving around 100 girls. Grassroot Soccer uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV. It builds basic life skills that help boys and girls adopt healthy behaviours and live risk-free.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to play football with the girls and was struck by the impact the centre is having on the community. “Here in Khayelitsha, the Football Centre for Hope is not just a project. It is a social meeting point for girls to protect themselves from HIV and become tomorrow’s football stars,” he said.

“Grassroot Soccer is restoring dignity and building self-esteem of young girls living in a challenging environment, transforming them into actors for the HIV prevention revolution.”

The delegation also had a chance to interact with the local staff and coaches to hear about how the programme and curriculum work, as well as the other types of HIV prevention and testing interventions they run in the community.

UNAIDS partnered with Grassroot Soccer in the development of the Skillz Curriculum which includes interactive activities for young people to learn about HIV and get a chance to practice the skills necessary for sustainable behaviour change. Topics in the curriculum include making healthy decisions, avoiding risks, building support networks, reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing knowledge about testing and treatment, addressing gender issues, and assessing values. Each of the commissioners received a set of Skillz Magazines and Skillz Coaches Training DVD.

In 2002 Tommy Clark, the founder and CEO, started Grassroot Soccer with friends who had played professional soccer together in Zimbabwe. They instinctively knew that soccer represented an opportunity in the fight against HIV. The organization has been operating in South Africa since 2006.

Learn more about Grassroot Soccer in this brief video overview:

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (second from left) joins the youth drama group during their play on the impact of stigma and discrimination for those living with HIV.

Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara took time off the pitch during the Cricket World Cup tournament to speak to hundreds of young people about the importance of being informed and responsible about HIV. The event was part of the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNAIDS and UNICEF’s Think Wise campaign for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

“You need to educate yourself and become more aware of the world around you and HIV. Be unafraid and unashamed to speak openly about these subjects with your friends, family and your teachers in school,” said Mr Sangakkara, during the event which was held at his old school, Trinity College, in the city of Kandy.

As part of the event, a youth drama group staged a play to demonstrate the impact of stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV. The drama reinforced the need for more education and life skills to prevent the spread of HIV, particularly among adolescents.

"To use theatre and cricket together was a great idea. No one expected Kumar to be a part of the play and when he came on with us, people really listened. Everything we were saying was reinforced by his presence and in his own words," said Kapila Rasnayaka, one of the young people involved in the drama group.

Kumar Sangakkara, along with other leading international cricketers including Graeme Smith (South Africa) and Virender Sehwag (India), is a ‘Champion’ spokesperson for the joint Think Wise partnership. In Kandy he was joined by Sri Lanka team mates Ajantha Mendis and Upul Tharanga who also showed their support for HIV prevention efforts in the country.

“If we are going to ‘get to zero’ on HIV, we need the active engagement of young people—the leaders of tomorrow’s response—now,” said UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Sri Lanka, David Bridger. “Sangakkara’s involvement in the campaign has helped push the boundaries, inciting discussion and a buzz around HIV that we will build on with the hope that young people will take the HIV response into their hands,” he said.

More than 7 000 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV each day—one out of three is a young person between 15 and 24 years-old. The Think Wise campaign encourages young people to be informed, take appropriate action to prevent HIV infection and stand together against the stigma and discrimination often facing people living with HIV.