The Sports Ministry today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of AIDS Control with the objective to "reach a large number of youth engaged in sports activities" at village, district and state level with information on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and related services.
The MoU was signed between Secretary, Department of Sports Ajit M Saran, and Secretary, Department of AIDS Control, Lov Verma, here today.
Other objectives included building the capacity of sports educators, administrators and coaches on "Minimizing the risk of HIV transmission on and outside the sports field, involve youth organisation, sports federations in HIV/AIDS prevention activities, promote awareness generation through hoarding and banners at eminent places and sports infrastructure during state/national events and tournaments, and involve eminent sports personalities for addressing social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
For fulfillment of objectives of MOU, the Department of Sports would issue directives to Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education (LNUPE), National Sports Federations (NSFs) and other sports bodies for creating awareness on HIV/AIDS and prioritize HIV/AIDS activities in various sports events and encourage sports persons to associate with HIV/AIDS awareness programmes.
The directives also included display of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials like hoarding/ panel for promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness at the "venue of sports events" and other major occasions, identifying sports personalities to become goodwill ambassadors to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, wearing red ribbon by players during major sports events to reflect and strengthen commitment to HIV/AIDS program etc.
The Department of AIDS Control provide technical support in capacity building on HIV/AIDS for sportspersons, trainees and staff of sports organisations and federations, by sharing of IEC materials for awareness generation activities.
