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| Ian Bell, Gareth Thomas, Lord Morris and West Indies skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan at the launch (Photo: DFID) | |
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, May 21, 2007 - A new unit that will help raise awareness and reduce the impact of discrimination against people in the Caribbean suffering from HIV and AIDS has been launched in the UK.
'Bowling Out AIDS' is jointly spearheaded by the British Government and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with the support of UK Sport. It will use the power of sport to educate people about the disease. Gareth Thomas, International Development Minister, David Collier, Chief Executive of the ECB and John Scott, International Director at UK Sport, were joined by England cricketer Ian Bell and West Indies Captain Ramnesh Sarwan in launching the campaign.
Thomas announced that a new £1.5 million unit will be set up in Barbados later this year, that will open the attack against stigma and find new and innovative ways to break down the barriers of discrimination against people in the Caribbean.
Welcoming the new initiative at a launch in the House of Commons, he noted that "Official figures tell us that there are a quarter of a million people infected with HIV in the Caribbean, but stigma, discrimination and ignorance of the disease mask the real extent of the problem. The truth is that with 19,000 related deaths and 27,000 new infections in 2006 the Caribbean faces the second largest problem from AIDS in the world, after Africa. It is already the leading cause of death of adults under 44.
"People living with HIV and AIDS face big enough challenges without the added burden of stigma and discrimination. I have witnessed first-hand the problems that people with HIV and AIDS around the world experience, treated as outcasts and shunned by their own family and friends. The new partnership, with the support of the ECB and West Indian cricketers, aims to reverse this and change the way people are treated, increase understanding and improve treatment of people living with the disease in the Caribbean."
"I am delighted that the Government is adding further impetus to the ECB/ICC HIV/AIDS awareness programme which has been running for a number of years. The new facility in the Caribbean will make a real difference to people's lives," said David Collier, Chief Executive of the ECB who expressed pleasure that his organisation is participating in the venture.
"Cricket is followed by people around the world, from Jamaica to England and from India to South Africa. The ECB and our players are committed to raising awareness of the issues faced by people living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. We would like to see more people learning about teamwork and inclusion through playing cricket, and our partnership with DFID means that together we can harness the power of cricket to tackle one of the toughest development challenges that the Caribbean faces."
"When we play cricket, we have to pull together or we lose matches. If you know someone who is living with HIV, they are still part of the team. Keep supporting them and together you'll keep winning," said England international cricketer Ian Bell.
West Indies captain, Ramnesh Sarwan was grateful for the attention being paid to the region and pledged strong support for this initiative. Lord Bill Morris said that stigma and discrimination is still a big issue in his country (Jamaica) and said the new unit would play a very important role.
John Scott from UK Sport spoke of the value of sports in this fight: "Evidence shows that using sport and professional athletes to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS works. Young people in particular idolise their favourite players and listen to what they have to say. I am pleased to see the players from England lending their voices to this important issue."
The partnership between DFID and the ECB will run from 2007 - 2010 and will involve profile-raising work by ECB players in the media and affected communities. The centrepiece of the new partnership, a Stigma and Discrimination Unit, will start work later this year (£1.5 million over three years). It is also being supported by the German Development Bank.
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