The initiative followed World TB Day that took place on 24 March 2017. The theme for this year’s campaign for World TB Day was; “Unite to end TB” placing special focus this year on uniting efforts to “Leave No One Behind”.
The event was held at John Waalton Secondary School in Rosedale, Uitenhage with Chippa United players Bongani Kama, Andile Mbenyane, Buyani Sali, Zama Dlamini, Kris Bergman, Tumisho Magakwe, Menzi Masuku, Veli Muthwa, Linda Shiba, Phetolo Sekome, Vusi Mncube and Donald Mokondolela in attendance.
The event started with a debate competition touching on TB related matters followed by a few 7-aside games. Chippa United players were asked to share messages with the learners on TB and HIV.
Bongani Kama as a local lad received a rapturous welcome from the learners: “We are delighted as players to spend half of this day with the learners and for me to come back to my community. I know what it means to them to have their favourite team visiting their school. This made it even easier for us to communicate various messages to them in relation to TB and the importance of prevention.”
Aretha May, a Grade 11 learner shared the excitement of having Chippa United at her school: “I always see them on TV and today we are all so excited to have them here as part of the education on TB. I am going to share the experience of this day with my friends back home and of course my family.
“It is an important day for us to learn more about TB and related diseases. The numbers continue to rise and such initiatives will go a long way in creating awareness in efforts to end TB,” added May.
Chippa United Football Club announced the partnership with South African Red Cross (SARCS), a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) early this year following KICKTB campaign in partnership with Department of Health, Department of Education and Love Life in November 2016.
The objective of the partnership is to support the provision of a comprehensive response for combating of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and TB by providing mechanisms aimed at demand and harm reduction through prevention and early intervention for adolescents whilst focusing on determinants of health such as education and employment.