Football is fun Celebrate and Play it safe!

Football is fun Celebrate and Play it safe!
Syed Ali Mujtaba

‘Religion is no more the opiate of the masses; football has taken its place’ says a wise of contemporary times twisting the Marxian phrase; religion is an opiate of the masses.

As FIFA world football fever has griped the nations, continents and world as a whole, the new prophesy is worth relishing.

Utilizing the World Cup Football fever to provide education on STI/HIV/AIDS and safe sexual behavior a public awareness event was organized in Chennai city on July 8, 2010.

The objective of the event was to link the current interest in football due to the ongoing world cup with the message on STI/HIV/AIDS.


A display of huge banner with a football picture covered with condoms titled “Football is fun, Celebrate and play it safe” was displayed at the venue of the event. The banner is going to remain on display at the venue from 8th to 12th July 2010.

Ln.Parthasarathy, Region Chair Person, Lions Club International District 324A-1, inaugurated the event. Ms. D.Kamakshi, Lions Club, District Chair Person, HIV/AIDS Education released the Poster.

Sports personal, youth, NGO’s, CEO’s, policy makers, communication experts and general public together took an oath on their commitment towards STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and not to discriminate people living with HIV/AIDS.

"I am sure that this message will be taken to the larger audience particularly the sports lover,” said A. J. Hariharan, Secretary of Indian Community Welfare Organization (ICWO).

“ICWO is committed to disseminate information on STI/HIV/AIDS in various occasions which normally creates a lot of interest to the general public," he added.

ICWO is a non-profitable, non-governmental organization working for STI/HIV/AIDS Prevention, care and support programs among various target community in specific focus with high risk groups for the past fifteen years.

ICWO used similar occasion to educate people on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support and work towards reducing stigma and discrimination against core and vulnerable population.

Actionaid India, Chennai Region / Rotary Club of Chennai were the other partners of ICWO that organized the event.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a working journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com