To commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day (WAD), YEDI, in collaboration with Grassroot Soccer, ExxonMobil and FIFA Foundation organized a medical outreach and football tournament at Ita-Oluwo Community in Ikorodu, Lagos.
This year’s event was held to sensitize members of the community and the general public on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially on the need to avoid risky behavior, while also educating people that having HIV/AIDS does not amount to a death sentence; rather, there are treatments available that allow anyone living with it to lead a normal and healthy life.
In the same vein, there was free HIV testing for Ita-Oluwo community members, with the aim of helping anyone who’s reactive to be referred for treatment. Other free health services were carried out, including malaria testing, hepatitis B, body vitals, medical counseling, and free medication, amongst others.
The Executive Director of YEDI, Tomisin Adeoye, expressed excitement with the large turnout and participation of the people in the community, emphasizing that “YEDI is driven by collaborating with great organizations like Grassroot Soccer, ExxonMobil, and the FIFA Foundation that are interested in bringing health-related impact to disadvantaged communities and people.”
Some of the community members who reacted to the hosting of the activities in their community thanked YEDI and its partners for finding their location worthy of this noble intervention, as they had fun with the football tournaments that were played and greatly benefited from the free medical activities.