If HIV and AIDS were a cricket team competing in Cricket World Cup 2007, South Africa would give it a sound thrashing, according to former Test cricketer Jonty Rhodes who said the key is to study the opponent, do the necessary research and execute as planned.
South Africa, the world number one ranked one-day team, continues its campaign to lift the World Cup trophy with upcoming matches against Bangladesh and Ireland, but as confident as Rhodes was he acknowledged they are tough opponents in the game. Knowledge is power, he said, adding that the more people that are aware of the disease the more likely the fight will be won.
Rhodes was joined by South African cricketers, Shaun Pollock, AB De Villiers and Andrew Hall on a Cricket World Cup field visit to the Dorothy Bailey Centre yesterday where they interacted with many young people and played a lively game of cricket before leaving.
The South African team’s visit was part of UNICEF’s Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS project which includes the collaboration of Cricket World Cup, UNAIDS and the Ministry of Health among other partners. For the project, several cricketers from various countries are rallying to hoist HIV and AIDS out of the ground.
The partnership is focused on using the power of cricket to help prevent HIV infection and to bring compassion, hope and support to the millions of children and young people infected with and affected by the disease around the world.
Yesterday Rhodes said the team is conscious of the effect HIV and AIDS has on Africa and has been playing its part to spread awareness.
“Government alone cannot do it so we have been doing our part in the communities. Africa has a very high infection rate and we are aware that children die every day from the disease. What we are hoping to do is make a difference by coming out and sharing what we know about the disease,” he said.
The cricketer said he and the rest of the South African team have added their voices in the fight against HIV and AIDS and are hoping there would be a massive roar across the world.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini said he was happy to add his influence to the project because of the devastation HIV and AIDS has caused in his homeland and beyond. He said the figures of those infected in Africa are staggering but noted that people are working to change things including the cricket team.
Dr Ruben Del Prado of UNAIDS briefly remarked that one wicket makes a difference and told the cricketers every single effort combines to a massive one overall.
Towering over the children gathered at the centre on South Road the South African cricketers stood in the front yard and engaged them in a lively game of cricket; the children batted while the South Africans bowled and fielded. Pollock took a few wickets while De Villiers managed a stumping. The cricketers also signed autographs and posed for a couple of pictures before leaving the centre.
Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is a global campaign launched by UNICEF and UNAIDS in October 2005 to inform that children are the missing faces of HIV and AIDS and it provides a platform for urgent and sustained programmes, advocacy and fundraising to limit the impact of the disease on children.