Raising awareness on the prevention of non-transmissible diseases through sport
Context
According to the Ugandan Ministry of Health, non-transmissible infections are responsible for 40% of the deaths in the country and are believed to be the most neglected diseases of the health system. Physical inactivity, a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet are major risk factors for the people concerned.
To protect the population and reduce the vulnerability of the persons concerned, C-AID has introduced this outreach programme centred on the power of attraction of football. Using sport should help reach health objectives by providing a popular platform that facilitates preventive education on chronic diseases.
Objectives
- Reducing the mortality attributable to NTIs by adopting healthy and active comportments and promoting healthy lifestyles, notably among children, the elderly, and persons from impoverished areas
- Increasing public awareness of the prevention of chronic diseases within the population
- Reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases by encouraging healthy comportments and an active lifestyle
- Increasing participation to physical activity with the targeted population through football
- Providing information to persons living with NTIs so as to take measures for preventing infection by COVID-19
Activities
- Building the capacity of educators/community coaches, and health workers by means of training workshops enabling them to acquire knowledge on the primary prevention of chronic diseases
- Holding football tournaments along with outreach activities with the aim of preventing NTIs and infection par by COVID-19 in the schools and communities
- Organising gala matches during chronic diseases international days (Cancer Day, Diabetes Day, Hypertension Day, etc.)
- Sensitisation of the populations by football celebrities on the adoption of a healthy and active lifestyle so as to prevent NTIs and infection by COVID-19
Impacts
- 6,000 students sensitised and 40 teachers trained into NTI prevention
- 10 sports coaches trained into NTI primary prevention and inducing people to the practice of sport
- 10 community health workers trained into primary prevention
- 10,000 people in the communities shall be reached by the outreach campaigns