Team PATA

Kicking AIDS out of Ghana

The One to One Children's Fund is looking for PATA participants who would be keen to collaborate in 'Kick and Test' football projects at their clinic.
The team from the Princess Marie-Louis Hospital (PML) in Accra hosted such a 'Kick and Test' Grassroots soccer day at Mantse Agbona - a neighbourhood of Accra. The one-day event took place on the 29th of March with two pre-events on the 25th and 27th to generate awareness and support. Over one thousand adolescents participated in the event, with five hundred opting to have VCT at the event.
The day started with music being played and then the soccer commenced, with four teams battling it out on a round robin basis.
Speaking before the event, Johnnie Aidoo from PML Hospital said that the "relaxed mood" created by adolescent and young families from the community playing soccer and listening to music, will make them "willing to test and take control of their lives". Ten counsellors were present to help out on the day.
"We hope that at the end of the day's event adolescents' awareness of HIV will increase," said Aidoo, "They will receive counselling on HIV and test to know their status." He also said that those who tested positive would receive comprehensive care at PML Hospital.
Tumi Manele, a South African who helped to make last year's Grassroot event in Port Elizabeth such a success, travelled to Ghana to assist with preparations and to offer support.

The testing event was funded by the One to One Children's Fund as part of the implementation of initiatives put forward at the PATA forum in Swaziland in December 2007.
If there are other clinics who are interested in collaborating on similar events, please contact Lauren at lauren@one2onekids.org.