Tackling HIV through sport

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A re dlale safe: Tackling HIV through sport

Ahead of World AIDS Day 2018, the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) on Thursday 29 November 2018 hosted a high-level national dialogue on sport and its impact, role, and opportunity for HIV prevention. World AIDS Day 2018 is an opportunity to harness the power of sport to reduce stigma and discrimination, increase education and empower young people to adopt healthy behaviours to prevent HIV in South Africa. The dialogue took place at the Brackenfell Action Sports Arena in Cape Town

SANAC recognizes that HIV incidence in youth, especially young women, is stubbornly high at around 1700 new infections per week. Research has found that knowledge of HIV amongst school learners is decreasing and we know that stigma and stereotypes persist amongst the youth. Now is the time to invest in what works.

“Millions of sports fans take part or watch sport every week in South Africa. Sport stimulates passion and has the capacity to unite us. It is also a powerful force for change and information sharing on issues such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB)” said Dr. Nevilene Slingers, SANAC Executive Manager for Resource Mobilisation.

In recent years an increasing array of projects have been leveraging the power of sport to promote inclusion, life skills, health, and educational messaging, to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals.

Global development partners, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria attended the dialogue, acknowledging the potential of sport as an impact booster for wider development interventions, particularly with vulnerable youth. 

“A sports-based approach is a unique and innovative way to address adolescents’ evolving needs, engage them on their health, and support them to plan for their futures. We have evidence to show that sport works to increase knowledge, empower individuals, change attitudes, drive demand for health services, improve adherence, build self-esteem and build confidence amongst youth,” noted Western Cape MEC for Health Nomafrench Mbombo, who delivered the keynote address at the dialogue.

SANAC's Executive Manager Dr Nevilene Slingers “We can change the course of HIV in South Africa by using sport”

Speakers at the dialogue also highlighted the importance of dealing with social and structural drivers of HIV and challenged all South Africans to address gender inequalities and rethink gender stereotypes that also contribute to the spread of HIV.

Soccer player Thandani Ntshumayelo participated in the dialogue, raising awareness about substance abuse and sharing his story of turning his life around.

“More than ever, sport can be a catalyst in our society to improve quality of life and human well-being and help us move closer to ending HIV and TB,” concluded SANAC’s Dr Nevilene Slingers.

 For more information, please contact Kanya Ndaki, SANAC Communications Manager 0832986100 

#TacklingHIVthroughSports #aReDlaleSafe #WAD2018 

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Doing good does transform

More than 200 Volunteers from NPC and their suppliers came together on 19^th August 2018 to celebrate InterCement’s International Day of Doing Good (DODG). 

This enthusiastic troop of volunteers rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves and toiled away on a beautiful Sunday morning with the aim of leaving a positive mark in the community.

The activities took place at many locations in Kwa-Zulu Natal including Bellair Primary School in Sarnia Road. The project for this school was to transform the play areas by painting and repairing the jungle gyms and benches around the school and the creation of a brand new sports field.

With much enthusiasm and effort, an old damaged tennis court was transformed into a beautiful field of green grass covering an area of 36 square metres, fit for any future sports star to train on. 

The Day of Doing Good started in 2013 and since then takes place annually in August. The Plant 

The satisfying end result

management team together with the Community Interaction and Volunteer Involvement Committee (CIVICO) under the leadership of Transformation Manager Smangele Tshabalala identifies organizations near their cement plants around the province, who qualify to receive some assistance as part of their Day of Doing Good programme. Once the needs are identified with these beneficiaries, planning gets underway for these social projects.

This year the DODG took place at Bellair Primary School in Bellair, Siphakamile Primary School in Bobhoyi Location Port Shepstone and Izazi High School in oSizweni Newcastle. Also part of the programme were Zibambeleni Old Age Home and Crèche in Margate and Umthombomuhle Primary School in Cliffdale Outer West Durban.

Newly appointed CEO of InterCement South Africa, Mr Jorge Reis was delighted with the turnout. He has witnessed numerous DODG programmes in other countries such as Portugal and Mozambique and was impressed by the actions taken by the South African InterCement employees and partners.

Jorge comments “The DODG is something special, being in a position to make a change in other people’s lives. We are grateful that we can achieve these goals with the help of our colleagues, our employees and our suppliers who are all like-minded in doing good today. I believe that the children are going to be very happy tomorrow when they see their new sports field for the first time. As a company DODG is very important to us as we can be a part of positive change and uplift our communities.”

Mrs Di Landman HOD Foundation Phase and Grade 1 teacher of Bellair Primary School was overwhelmed: “Thank you Natal Portland Cement (NPC) and all the volunteers! Your day of doing good was fun-filled, exciting and action-packed. This was a wonderful example of what can be achieved by committed people working together towards a common goal. NPC successfully displayed what "Ubuntu" is all about. The children were thrilled to arrive at school on Monday morning and to see the transformation of their play area. How lovely to look out of the windows and see the lush grass waiting to be played on. The day was a huge success!

 

Director of HR, Legal and Supply Chain Mr Edney Vieira commented, “The DODG is a project that InterCement implements globally. One of our main company principles is to build sustainable partnerships. I do not see any better way of embracing this principle than by what we are doing today. It is very inspiring for all and hopefully one day it will be spread out to the whole of South Africa.” 

So as the sun sets on another successful activation, the transformation team will continue to look for more projects that will make a positive change in their communities. In so doing they continue InterCement’s legacy of Doing Good around the world and in its own way strive to make the world a better place for all.

Words & Photography
Paul Godwin / Nerve Communications 2018

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