US Embassy launches Inside Story
Mpho Tlale | Monday June 16, 2014 06:59
The film is a full-length feature that aims to educate young africans about HIV/AIDS. It uses soccer to engage young audiences who are the most vulnerable to HIV infection. The storyline captures the journey of a young Kenyan soccer player whose life changes dramatically after he gets an offer to play in South Africa.
On the same day, he has unprotected sex and gets infected with HIV. Upon discovering his HIV status, the young man finds it hard to accept. He starts drinking heavily but manages to re-focus his life’s direction when he finally lets go of his denial. At the screening, the American Embassy handed 500 copies of Inside Story DVD to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for distribution around schools in Botswana.
Speaking at the launch, Charge d’ Affaires at the US Embassy Michael Murphy said he hopes the DVD will be made available to students from Shakawe to Hukuntsi He said Inside Story is a very important film that has the potential to educate and change young minds through the use of soccer, a sport which many young people are interested in.
Murphy emphasised that prevention remains the cornerstone of the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in any country.
He revealed that over the last 10 years, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) the United States government has spent more than $700 million dollar (approximately P6 billion) on HIV/AIDS programmes in Botswana. He said successful prevention programmes require a combination of evidence-based and mutually reinforcing interventions.
“The film, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, highlights the importance of preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS, especially among young people who are most vulnerable to infection,” he said.
Furthermore, Murphy said the film strives to encourage the youth to be open and have honest dialogue on HIV infection, motivate each other to make informed health decisions as well as encourage each other to take responsibility for their health. He added that the film should also be a tool that encourages the youth to combat the negative stereotypes about living with HIV that may prevent people from seeking treatment. Murphy said that it is no doubt that to date HIV/AIDS is still one of the biggest concerns in Africa and the world over.
He added that it is befitting that as they seek to achieve an AIDS-free generation, there should be innovative support programmes like Inside Story.While the film was funded by the US Government through PEPFFAR it was also driven by the Discovery Channel Global Health Education Partnership (DGCEP) with support from USAID, Management Sciences Health (MSH), Chevron, Access Bank, World Health Organisation and UNAIDS.
Permanent secretary in the ministry of health Richard Matlhare was at the launch