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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The Youths Empowerment Development Initiative (YEDI), has commemorated the World AIDS Day with HIV testing, counselling services, football tournament and an awareness campaign in Ita Oluwo, an underserved Lagos community.
Its Executive Director, Tomisin Adeoye, said: “Our team of committed development professionals has set out to pilot the grassroots soccer model, a football-for-development programme proven to reduce HIV prevalence rates and stigma.”
Adeoye stated that they had to design grassroots football as a crucial strategy in engaging various communities to participate in the medical exercise: “These equally helped them raise awareness and the pivotal impact on communities, in shaping the HIV response, as well as global health. The football tournament has encouraged people to come out for the exercise. It’s campaign access.
“Though the theme for this year, ‘Let Communities Lead,’ at YEDI, it is ‘Remember to commit,’ which is more than a celebration of the achievements of communities, but a call to action to engage and support the life saving works of communities.
“We hinge on ‘Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Community by Community.’ “We are committed to advocacy, using football matches to bring together youths, adults, middle aged, elderly and equally notable personalities, including government officials and community leaders, in diverse communities.
“The match served as a platform to encourage open conversations about the virus and promote the theme of community-driven efforts to end the epidemic.
“Also, at YEDI, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date, raise awareness about the challenges that remain to achieve the goals of ending AIDS by 2030 and mobilize all communities stakeholders and traditional leaders to jointly redouble their efforts to ensure the success of the HIV response.
“More so, the organisation embarked on the football tournament alongside the medical outreach, where those diagnosed would be on referrals and more.
“Reflecting on the success of these interventions, President, The Integrity Global Outreach (TIGO), Dr. Oladipupo expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made these events possible. “Our commitment to free medical outreach is a testament to our belief in ensuring people gets access to free treatment that is why we are here today.
“TIGO is collaborating with YEDI in the area of free eye screening, treatment and donations of 50 pairs of glasses. We are encouraged with what YEDI is doing, so we decided to partner in this area. I am an Optometric doctor; three doctors who are specialists would attend to the community.”
Furthermore, he said empowering them with basic information to make healthy choices about their daily health is part of the sensitization talk.
Earlier, Adeoye lauded other organizations that partnered with YEDI, and were commended for their support. “We appreciate all partners, sponsors and donors; “My appreciation goes to UNFPA, ExxonMobil, Grassroots soccer, Small world, MAC Aids Fund, FIFA Foundation, Common Goal, DAI, ACT Foundation, Novartis, AWDF, Lagos State Government among others. We appreciate you all.”
