Kiwi stars promote HIV and Aids awareness in Alexandra

Children at the Little Champs Alexan Kopano School in Alexandra, Johannesburg, today had the opportunity to meet some of New Zealand's ICC World Twenty20 squad as part of the International Cricket Council's partnership with UNICEF and UNAIDS to promote HI

Chris Hurst

04-Sep-2007

Gareth Hopkins and Ross Taylor visit Little Champs Alexan Kopano School in Alexandra, Johannesburg © Rebecca Hearfield

The campaign headlined, 'Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS', will use the high-profile of the ICC World Twenty20 that begins on 11 September in South Africa, and the associated star power of the players to bring the plight of children living with and affected by HIV into greater focus.

The children had the opportunity to meet Kiwi stars Ross Taylor (23), Jeetan Patel (27) and Gareth Hopkins (30), who joined in a range of HIV and AIDS awareness activities.

Patel said: "Cricket can bring out the full potential of the children by equipping them with vital skills and keeping them out of harms way from AIDS and HIV and other social vices."

"I strongly share the view that future cricket greats and political leaders will come from among these children, and that is why it is important to halt the spread of AIDS and HIV."

Ross Taylor added: "We see this as our little contribution to ensure that the lives of children and young people are not lost to the prevalence of AIDS and HIV, especially in South Africa and other countries most impacted by the disease."

South Africa is home to an estimated 5,4 million people living with HIV. According to a Statistics South Africa report, Mortality and Causes of Deaths in South Africa, 2005, children's deaths between 0 to four years stood at 61,461, representing 10,4 percent of all deaths. The report noted that most of the leading causes of infant and child deaths are preventable and treatable diseases such as AIDS and respiratory infections.