In a bid to mark this year’s #WorldAIDSDay, the Nigeria #RedRibbonCoalition, a strategic public-private sector alliance convened by Coca-Cola Nigeria, comprising Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), Society for Family Health (SFH) and various private sector partners, organised a novelty football match at weekend to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and also provide free HIV Testing and Counselling services for free at Campus Mini Stadium, Lagos Island.
The celebrity football match featured ex-international football stars who have carved a niche for themselves in the soccer sporting world as well as notable celebrities in the Nigerian music and film industry. Leading the ex-international stars were Emmanuel Babayaro (health Ambassador and Ex-Super Eagles Goalkeeper), Ifeanyi Udeze, Victor Agali, Emmanuel Okocha, Abdul Isah and several others. Representing the movie and music industry were stars like Nollywood actress, Belinda Effah, actor/movie producer, John Njamah, music producer, ID Cabassa, Sound Sultan and other celebrities, who took time out of their busy schedules to join hands in pushing back the scourge of the common adversary HIV.
The convener and Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Emeka Mba reiterated the company’s resolve to support grassroots innovative approaches aimed at improving lives nationwide. He noted that the Coalition which started last year, was building on the successes made at the inaugural edition in 2015 by mobilizing and sensitizing people to know their status with the provision of free HIV testing services in a friendly environment, tackling issues of stigmatization, discrimination and fear of getting tested, promoting social inclusion and adequate care for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and stimulating a larger stakeholder involvement.
He added that no individual, government, or organization can singlehandedly make meaningful progress in the fight against HIV/AID, hence the need for a coalition.
