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ICC working with UNAids
International Cricket Council
In India and South Africa alone, over nine million people are living with HIV or AIDS. Despite the current low HIV prevalence in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the potential for HIV to spread is high if prevention efforts are not scaled up quickly. In Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, current trends indicate a rise in sexually transmitted infections and unsafe sex, increasing the risk of HIV. In the West Indies, HIV is spreading rapidly. The ICC is in the process of integrating the 'Run Out AIDS' campaign through its Development Program, and by driving various awareness-raising initiatives since the ICC-UNAIDS alliance was launched in 2003. The ICC's Full Members have also been encouraged to support the cause and a senior staff member at each national cricket board has been appointed as a co-ordinator to work locally with UNAIDS officials to implement initiatives at a national level. ICC President Ehsan Mani announced the ICC-UNAIDS alliance in Mumbai in 2003, along with the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jagmohan Dalmiya, and Mahesh Mahalingam from UNAIDS. As part of the launch, the participants met with local HIV/AIDS awareness workers in India. Mr Mani said the ICC and cricket had a role to play in helping to address the AIDS epidemic by raising awareness and education levels in the cricket community. The ICC continues to implement various awareness-raising initiatives – such as the wearing of red ribbons at September's ICC Champions Trophy in England. The European Development Progam will from now on have participants wearing red ribbons at all events. The ICC is interested to hear any ideas from cricket enthusiasts about ways to increase awareness about HIV through international cricket. Email icc@icc-cricket.com |
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In September 2003, the ICC became the first international sporting organisation to develop a special link with the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), when it launched its strategic partnership and a 'Run Out AIDS' campaign. The aim of the ICC-UNAIDS 'Run Out AIDS' partnership is to help raise awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the cricket-playing world. Of an estimated 40 million people infected worldwide with HIV, over 12 million live in the main cricket-playing nations.