Athletics used for Aids awareness: Malawi Olympic Committee hails Manelera
Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) has hailed Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected with HIV and Aids (Manelera+)-Balaka Chapter for its tireless effort in spreading HIV/Aids messages through various sporting disciplines.
The recommendations came at the end of the netball, football and olympic trophies that Manelera in conjunction with the MOC launched in January this year in order to give a chance to youths in the district to showcase their talents in three categories of football, netball and athletics in the process creating a platform to spread HIV/Aids messages to the masses.
Speaking in an interview with Nyasa Times, MOC Treasure who represented the association Henry Sakala also called upon for unity and active participation in dissemination of HIV awareness campaign through sports.
“To us as MOC we take it as a success because we have also realized that other sporting disciplines can help in disseminating HIV/Aids messages. What Manelera+ is doing is a great job but it is not a one day thing therefore we need to join hands and put extra effort I HIV awareness” Sakala said.
He therefore called upon other companies and organizations to emulate Manelera+ example if a dream of reducing HIV/Aids prevalence in Malawi is anything to go by.
“We as MOC in conjunction with Manelera+ are encouraging other organizations to take part in spreading HIV/Aids messages particularly to the youths. We always need to find something for our youths for them to abstain” he said.
On his part, Ali Mwachande who is Manelera+ Balaka Chapter Finance and Administrative Manager described the whole arrangement as a success.
“It has been a success and everything went beyond our imagination and in the process we have also learnt that athletics also has a huge impact in disseminating HIV/Aids messages” he said.
He also pledged continued support towards the sponsorship of various sporting disciplines to disseminate Aids messages.
“We have tried our level best to wrap up this year’s edition and we will sit down and map the way forward but the possibilities of bouncing back next are there.” Mwachande said.
According to Chande, a sum of K1.5 Million was used to run the cups.
Football got a lion’s share of K800, 000.00, K400,000.00 was pumped into netball while K300,000.00 was allocated to athletics.
Liwonde road block emerged the winner in the football category after beating Phalula Dynamos 2-1.
They went away with K150, 000.00 cash and the runners up received K100,000.00.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :