Internationally famous U.S. and South African athletes, led by “Basketball Without Borders Africa” legend, Bob Lanier, and Boxing Champion, Baby Jake Matlala, showed South Africans that Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS is vital. One-by-one, the sports heroes personally volunteered for counseling and HIV/AIDS testing and demonstrated the process with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Flanked by sports celebrities,
Lanier urged a crowd of fans at a Johannesburg sports ground on September 8,
“Know your status.” Counseling and testing are ALWAYS conducted in private
for each individual, but the sports stars asked USAID to simulate for the public
what happens at such encounters. A counseling session was staged in front
of thousands of South Africans so the audience could hear what USAID’s
professional HIV/AIDS counselors from the Right To Care partnership asked and
told the athletes about HIV and how the AIDS test works. After the
psychological and emotional preparation was covered by the counselor, each
athlete waited his turn and privately entered the mobile medical clinic provided
by USAID for testing, followed by further counseling, by trained staff.
After completing his test, Lanier stood by USAID’s banner, titled, “I am Proudly Tested”, and advised the crowd, “Test your HIV status regularly.” He explained, “Knowing your status lets you know how to live your life and it prevents you from being re-infected.” Lanier told the crowd, “AIDS is a global problem and it is important to know how it is spread and how to protect yourself.” He encouraged, “Those who are married should be faithful to their partners and those [singles] who are sexually active must use a condom at all times.”
Boxing superstar Matlala addressed the fans in local South African languages with the unmistakeable message, “We are each responsible to fight AIDS.” Houston Rockets basketball player, Dikembe Mutombo, said, “Having a lot of information about the disease helps us to make right decisions and choices.”
Educational posters and literature were available for the public from USAID, Right to Care and South Africa’s Department of Health.
The sports stars inspired their fans to follow in their footsteps on and off the field. USAID’s health director in South Africa, John Crowley, helped promote the testing event and said, “These heroes are admired and respected, so they have helped remove fears and stigmas about getting tested.”
South Africa has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the world, with an estimated 5.3 million people infected by the virus. USAID works with South Africa’s government and other groups supporting prevention, education, treatment, care and research. USAID is one of the U.S. government agencies channeling support for the President’s five-year Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to treat at least two million HIV-infected persons with anti-retroviral therapy, prevent seven million new infections and care for 10 million persons infected with or affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children in 15 countries.
The sports star voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS event was organized by the U.S. Consulate and the City of Johannesburg. Fans had the opportunity to share the basketball court with their sports heroes and listened to local music groups performing live.
