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Pakistan’s HIV Cricket Team Are Positive Role Models
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Abstract
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| Besides racking up wins in the country’s national sport, a cricket team in Pakistan has as its mission fighting the considerable stigma against people with HIV/AIDS. Created a year ago by the HIV rights group the Pakistan Society, First Positive Cricket Team’s is composed entirely of HIV-positive members. And in August, the team played its first match - and won.
“Every time they play, the players have a boost physically, emotionally, and psychologically, and they feel a lot better,” said Dr. Saleem Azam, the society’s president. “People assume the team must be very sick-looking, like walking skeletons, but when they see them playing and winning matches they have to think again.”
“We’re giving them a very strong message that having HIV does not mean you must retire from life and become helpless,” Azam said. “You can have HIV and live a very happy life if you take your antiretroviral treatment regularly.”
Already, being part of the team has helped reconnect some members with estranged families, Azam said. “The stigma is the worst consequence of this illness, so it will be the greatest service to people with HIV if we are able to help them overcome this stigma,” he said.
Next month, the team has two matches away from home, providing it an opportunity to spread its message of hope beyond its Karachi base.
“We are reaching the minds of people,” said Abdul Lateef, the team’s captain. “Everybody thinks there are things that HIV-positive people cannot do. We have shown we can play and we have proved to everybody we can do anything they can do.”
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Subjects
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Asia
Athletes
HIV Positive Persons
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Disclaimer: NPIN provides this information as a public service only. The views and information provided about the materials, news, funding opportunities, organizations, and conferences do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, or NPIN.
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cdcnpin.org News Record #54325
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