COMMUNITY support groups affiliated to the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) have formed an organisation that seeks to use sport to fight stigma.

The new organisation -- Positive Initiative Trust (PIT) -- also wants to offer people living with HIV psycho-social support.

PIT director, Trust Sebastian Chinhaire said they chose to use sport to spread messages about positive living because of its huge following.

"Football is used as an entry point for a vibrant, peer-led reproductive health and HIV and Aids programme in which trained peer educators provide the much needed information, social support and advice to vulnerable groups in their communities."

Chinhaire, a well known HIV and Aids activist and ZNNP+ chairman for Harare, said PIT was initiated by women living with HIV who have a vision to scale up prevention and reduce stigma that is largely caused by lack of knowledge about HIV and Aids.

"They want to become role models of positive living and share their challenges with neighbouring districts and the whole country.

"They want to show their communities that there is life after testing HIV-positive and that people should not be afraid to get tested until it is too late."

On Saturday PIT will be officially launched at a sports gala for people living with HIV at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare.

Various sporting activities have been lined up for the event where the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mark Canning will be the guest of honour.

The sporting activities will include a soccer final for women living with Aids league. Eight teams took part in the soccer league.

Many people living with HIV are embracing the idea of using sport as a means to change people's perceptions about HIV and Aids.

Recently a team from Epworth, ARV Swallows made history by clinching the first ever HIV-positive Women's Soccer League championship.

The Epworth women guided by veteran soccer administrator, Chris Sambo say they have managed to change people's negative perception about PLWAs.

By The Standard