HIV 0 FOOTBALL 1 in Nigeria

Football matches provide an opportunity to teach people about prevention of HIV/AIDS in the town of Mgbala Agwa in South Eastern Nigeria.

Nduka Ozur is the founder and co-ordinator of Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum, a community-based organisation that uses football and books to tackle the problem of HIV/AIDS.

Nduka established MAYF because he was worried about the rising death rate in the town of Mgbala Agwa in South Eastern Nigeria. 'I am attending a funeral this weekend for someone who died of AIDS-related disease,' he tells me.

He decided to focus on educating young people because 'they are the most active and the most vulnerable.' He points out that if the youth is destroyed, the whole community will suffer.

Poverty is rife in Mgbala Agwa and access to basic facilities like health and education is limited. UNAIDS states that HIV/AIDS prevalence in Nigeria currently stands at 5.8% but could increase rapidly. 'Initially people did not understand what HIV/AIDS was about.

"Some people thought that I was trying to expose their extra-marital affairs! I wanted to abandon the idea, but I am talking about my own people, I have a social responsibility." While Nduka admits that has been frustrating at times, it is never an option to quit.

MAYF initially set up a library with literature on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. "The Community Library is for youths and rural users. We have over 50,000 books and CDs. The library is an invaluable way for people to learn about AIDS and in turn share information with their peers. Unfortunately illiteracy means that the library is not accessible to all."

This is where football comes in. "Through football, we address nearly all the community and reach people that would not otherwise have sought information." MAYF members are on hand to talk about HIV/AIDS while people cheer on their teams.

Since the first event in 2001, the football match has become a successful annual event, pulling large crowds. "The winners of the competition don't matter, but hopefully we'll kick the virus out."

"MAYF is not a one man thing!" Nduka jokes. It has an executive body and over 150 members. Netaid1 online volunteers also support MAYF by collecting books for the library and researching funding for new programmes.

"Catch Them Young", MAYF's latest project, targets children aged 6-15. 'Our aim is to educate children on the dangers of unprotected sex. We want to preach abstinence.' There is no money for contraception and anti-retroviral drugs here.

We are talking online because I couldn't get through to Nduka on the phone. His internet café is closing. I ask him what keeps him going? "'To hear people discuss HIV/AIDS. To see my members become more productive young people with hopes, contributing to the community."

"It is my dream to have every youth here participate". Nduka is determined not to let HIV/AIDS win in Mgbala Agwa.

For further information

Contact	:	Nduka Ozor
Address	:	21,Warehouse road Apapa Lagos,Nigeria
Phone	:	+234 8035719595
Email	:	mayfnigeria@yahoo.com

WWW

:

http://www.mgbala-agwa.org