UNAIDS and the Confederation of African Football Association (CAF) have strengthened their partnership by concluding a memorandum of understanding (MoU). In Johannesburg, South Africa, on 19 January, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and President of CAF Issa Hayatou signed the MoU, which aims to leverage the popularity of football and advance HIV prevention.
The agreement was launched on the side-lines of the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations, which opened also on 19 January and focuses on a joint initiative called “Protect the Goal”. The campaign is designed to ensure access to HIV treatment and raise public awareness of HIV and prevention, particularly among young people, who are crucial to halting the epidemic.
The partnership with CAF brings unprecedented opportunity for social transformation through sports. The new generation must lead the prevention revolution. Globally, we still have nearly 7000 people getting infected with HIV each day – by the time we finish this tournament, 160 000 people will be infected. This is unacceptable.
Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director
UNAIDS and CAF through this campaign will disseminate life-saving HIV messages to millions of athletes and fans across the continent and beyond.
Issa Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football.
