South African team joins war against AIDS

Ahmedabad, Oct 19 (UNI) The South African team today came forward to join the UNICEF and UNAIDS's campaign - 'Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS' for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

The children tied a red and blue coloured band called 'Suraksha Bandhan' on the wrists of South African team members who arrived here today,taking a promise from them to take up the issues of children in their fight against HIV/AIDS. Along with the cricketers, Corinne Woods, Chief of Communication and Dr Y N Mathur, State epresentative, UNICEF and Anand Tiwari, Advocacy Officer, UNAIDS were present.

ICC entered into a partnership with UNAIDS in 2003 and has been a consistent supporter in the fight against AIDS. Owing to the fact that cricket is a hugely popular sport in many of the countries where UNICEF and UNAIDS are working to achieve measurable progress for children affected by HIV/AIDS, the involvement of ICC is playing a significant role in promoting the goals of the AIDS campaign with a specific focus on prevention of HIV/AIDS among children and adolescents and ending stigma and discrimination.

Thanking ICC&the South African team captain Graeme Smith for their support, Corinne Woods, Chief Communications Officer UNICEF-India said, ''The campaign objective is to gather collective voices to fight against HIV/AIDS and put focus on the issues of HIV/AIDS affected children who are the missing face of this fight.

Coming together of South African team for this cause will surely help the campaign.'' ''We feel if more and more people are seen wearing Suraksha Bandhan, it will not just help increase awareness but will also help reduce stigma towards HIV,'' she added.

More UNI VNB MJ PM RK1816