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THE Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Behavioural Change Programme (ZICHIRE) is using sport to fight against drug and substance abuse.
The organisation recently held their first event, dubbed “Brother to Brother” in Highfield where they attracted hordes of youths.
Speaking during the event, ZICHIRE director, Walter Chikanya, said the programme was aimed at making the boys know how to respect women and shun drugs.
“It is an anti-drugs campaign with the aim of giving these boys knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse.
“We are also doing this event because on the 16th of May it was International Day of Boy Child, so it’s also part of the commemorations,” he said.
Chikanya said the event was a mentorship programme aimed at utilising sport as an advocacy vehicle to mobilise, build and instil life skills to boys and young men.
“We saw that in the past, many programmes to do with women have been done, but the boy child was left out so we are addressing that gap.
“This event is also aiming at addressing and encouraging health seeking behaviour amongst boys and young men.
“Boys tend to shy away from health care when they are sick, hence we want to encourage them to visit hospitals and get all the necessary help.
“The boys should also report abuse and also know the dangers of illicit drugs such as Guka,” he added.
Speaking at the same event, UNAIDS Community Support advisor, Jeremia Manyika, said the programme was aimed at addressing the problem of late presentation, at health facilities, and low uptake of health services, by young men.
“These boys are also being taught to grow into becoming men and they must know that being sick doesn’t make one a lesser man but they must seek medical attention soon.
“We are also encouraging the boys to go for HIV testing.”
One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Dillan Ndoro, a 15-year-old-boy said, as players, they must spend time doing productive things.
“We must spend time playing soccer and other activities so that we desist from drugs.
“If one takes drugs it causes one to lack concentration in class and also not to respect our elders and sisters and end up raping them,” he said.
Besides football, other sporting disciplines, which were held, include tug-of-war, draft, chess and netball.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter