Stephane Mbia Accompanies African First Ladies Aigaints Aids

Some 3,500 youths over the weekend in Yaounde were sensitised on the dangers of the HIV pandemic while 500 others, voluntarily had their blood screened of the virus. This was during the first edition of a football jamboree dubbed "Festifoot Jeunes Stephane Mbia" organised from December 27 to 28 at the Reunification football stadium of the University of Yaounde I.

The event was a grandiose football feast in which the Cameroonian international footballer, Stephane Mbia Etoundi joined the Pan African NGO of African First Ladies; African Synergy Against AIDs and Suffering to spread a message against HIV which is a disease that is ravaging a majority of the population with young people mostly affected. The event which started with free voluntary screening of HIV and HIV sensitisation messages ended with a football match between FC Ngoa Ekelle and Calcio Ecole Des Postes. The match was watched by many people amongst which the renowned footballer, Stephane Mbia Etoundi and the Executive Secretary of African Synergy, Jean Stephane Biatcha.

Before the match, Stephane Mbia in a speech, told youths that AIDs is real and many people are dying from the disease. He noted that the consequences of the pandemic are outrageous thus he could not fold his arms without doing anything. That is why he opted to join African First Ladies through the Festifoot Jeunes event which brought many youths together to know not only their serological status but also how to prevent themselves from the disease. "Our country has talented youths, we need to assist them" Stephane Mbia told the population.

At the Reunification Football Stadium, personnel from African Synergy, Chantal Biya Foundation as well as peer educators where seen dishing out useful information to youths in a bid to curb the HIV pandemic. Three sensitisation stands were placed around the football field from which young people received education on how to prevent HIV and the proper use of preventive measures such as male and female condoms. Peer educators went to neighbouring homes around the stadium to sensitise people on the disease.

An HIV mobile unit was also around the stadium to freely screen people. The head of the mobile unit, Dr Jean Audrey Ndongo said the turnout was impressive and unexpected because some many people wanted to know their HIV status to the extent that they almost ran short of working material.