SKILLZ For Life : preventing malaria and HIV/AIDS

A project managed by Special Olympics

Created in 1968, Special Olympics is an NGO that champions the social inclusion of athletes with intellectual or physical disabilities by organising international competitions in a variety of sports. Its initiatives harness the power of sport to inspire confidence and to improve the health of athletes.

A project managed by Grassroot Soccer

Founded in 2003 in Zimbabwe, Grassroot Soccer is an NGO that uses the power of football to educate, inspire and raise awareness among at-risk young people in developing countries about various health-related issues, in particular HIV/AIDS.

SKILLZ For Life is a malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention programme that has been implemented in Nigeria since 2015. It was launched by Special Olympics Nigeria in partnership with the NGO Grassroot Soccer. Its main objective is to support disadvantaged groups and young persons with intellectual disabilities using the power of football and a suitable awareness-raising methodology.

Context

According to a United Nations report, more than 220 million cases of malaria occur globally each year. In 2018, 25% of all cases were recorded in Nigeria, the most affected country, where around 30% of the population live in high-risk areas and 67% in moderate-risk areas. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Nigeria is estimated at around 1.4% among people aged 15 to 49.
Using suitable educational methods, SKILLZ For Life uses the power of football to educate, raise awareness and provide tools and services to prevent malaria and HIV/AIDS among disadvantaged groups, in particular young people with intellectual disabilities and their relatives.

Goals

Promote the social inclusion of young people with intellectual disabilities, boost their knowledge of various health-related issues and foster their self-development through football
Improve the knowledge and behaviours of disadvantaged persons in relation to sexual health
Bolster the self-confidence of young beneficiaries of the programme
Encourage the adoption of good habits and the use of testing services to reduce the spread of diseases
Contribute to reducing sexual abuse, stigmatisation and gender-based violence in communities

Activities

Organisation of awareness-raising events to coincide with international days on combating malaria and HIV/AIDS
Provision of free counselling sessions and establishment of a platform for advice and voluntary malaria and HIV/AIDS testing
Distribution of mosquito nets, medicines and protection kits
Treatment and follow-up of persons who tested positive for malaria or HIV/AIDS

Impacts

Almost 9,000 sports programme participants between 2015 and 2018
More than 7,000 mosquito nets, medicines and protection kits distributed
More than 7,700 beneficiaries of advice and voluntary malaria testing
540 persons who tested positive between 2015 and 2018 (534 cases of malaria and 6 cases of HIV) benefited from treatment through community partners