AMREF Celebrates Day of African Child: Using World Cup Action to Deliver Vital HIV Education
For Immediate Release 
Toronto, Ontario, Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 – On June 16th the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) observes the Day of the African Child, honouring the courage and memory of the thousands of African children who participated in the 1976 Soweto uprising to demand better education and to be educated in their own language. Committed since 1957 to improving the health of the most disadvantaged people in Africa, AMREF is leveraging the powerful attraction of the first FIFA World Cup games on African soil to deliver vital health messages to children and their communities through a unique partnership with Africa Goal.
Africa Goal is a charitable partner to FIFA and the World Cup broadcasting World Cup matches live on large screens to communities in remote or poor areas that do not have access to opportunities to view the matches.
With Africa Goal providing the equipment, AMREF is mobilizing communities and providing public health education to thousands of children and their families. The first screening took place in Dagoretti, a slum area in Nairobi, Kenya on June 11th. Children from AMREF’s Dagoretti Child in Need Project performed plays, poems and skits around the HIV/AIDS theme with a public showing of Mapenzi Tamu and hosted a question and answer session for the audience. On June 14, the team traveled to present the Cameroon match in Iringa and Mbeya, Tanzania, where AMREF has among others, HIV/AIDS projects. The team will travel south, with the final stop on July 10th and 11th in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, where AMREF is running projects with orphans and vulnerable children.
“AMREF aims at continually empowering the community to be able to take care of their own children”, says John Muriuri, Project Manager for AMREF’s Dagoretti Child in Need Project, “The partnership with Africa Goal is an example of the simple projects communities can implement to eradicate disease, poverty and helplessness among them.“
AMREF is the world’s leading African health development agency developing unique and locally relevant strategies to improve the health of most disadvantaged people in Africa. In South Africa alone, AMREF is working with 13,500 orphans in Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal Provinces with an integrated approach to address the health, education, welfare, and psycho-social needs of children. In order to reach them, AMREF has already trained 233 community health workers to provide essential services.
About AMREF
Founded in 1957, the African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) is the world’s leading African health development organization. With headquarters, history and feet on the ground in Africa, AMREF ensures good health for the most marginalized people in Africa. With their active involvement, AMREF develops and implements innovative solutions to critical health challenges facing the continent.
AMREF is launching Stand up for African Mothers – an appeal to raise awareness and support for AMREF’s life-saving maternal health programs in Africa. Canada’s spotlight on maternal and child health entering the G8 and G20 this June means a real chance to help save a substantial number of lives.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, INTERVIEWS, IMAGES PLEASE CONTACT:
Salima Pirani, Communications Manager AMREF Canada
Office: 416-961-6981
Mobile: 416-727-5004
E-mail: spirani@amrefcanada.org
www.amrefcanada.org
NOTE TO MEDIA on G8/G20 EXPERTS
Leading African health experts will be in Toronto for the G8/G20 Summits from June 20-28, 2010 and available to speak with members of the media on issues relating to health in Africa:
Dr. John Nduba - AMREF’s Director of Reproductive and Child Health
Ms. Victoria Kimotho - AMREF’s Lead Researcher, Directorate of Health Policy and Systems Research
