Smith shows support for people living with HIV

South African captain Graeme Smith has spoken about the importance of international cricketers delivering messages aimed at raising awareness and reducing stigma around HIV/AIDS.

Teams playing in international matches this week will wear red ribbons as a show of support for people living with HIV. It is hoped through this symbol of support for people affected by the disease, there will be less discrimination towards them in society.

Smith, who has been an active supporter of the partnership between the ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative since it began in 2003, believes that cricketers can play an important advocacy role on the issue of HIV/AIDS.

“From our perspective the ribbon wearing, the television stuff, it is a good global way of telling people that we care and that we want to play our part in learning about the disease, stop the disease growing and play our part in teaching people about it,” said Smith.

“One way we can really do it is by wearing the ribbon. It is a very easy way for us to do it and just to put it on our shirt is a real sign that we care.”

As a South African, Smith is particularly keen to deliver messages on this issue, as there are approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in his country while 1.4 million children aged 0 to 17 are orphans due to AIDS, although he believes that the global expansion of the sport can help him deliver messages to young people across the world.

“In most parts of the world where cricket is played there is a real issue with HIV/AIDS. I think it is the one sport that can impact on a lot of those people and teach them about the disease. From our perspective we are more focused on our country as it is the reality we live with on a daily basis,” he said.
“As international sportsmen, the way the game is growing financially and the exposure it is getting around the world, it is important we spend our time using our ability as a role model to encourage people to learn about the disease.”

Smith also revealed that the South African team talks about HIV/AIDS on a regular basis in order that that protect themselves and promote the right messages to the general public.

“We are lucky as we do get educated about it, we get promotion packs, we talk about it, our team manager, Dr Moosajee, is in the medical field, and spends a lot of time educating us on the disease,” said the 27-year-old.

“I think it is important that we understand it if we are promoting and talking about it and that we have a real idea of what we are doing.”