U.S. GOVERNMENT SCORES A MAJOR WIN WITH NDONDO CUP BY PROVIDING HIV SERVICES TO 10,000 YOUTH

Ubungo Municipal Nurse, Farida Mussa offers counselling to Hassan Juma who is a Dar es Salaam resident during the Ndondo Cup 2024 final which took place over the weekend in Dar es Salaam. The U.S. Government through USAID and PEPFAR, alongside the Breakthrough ACTION project partnered with the Ministry of Health, the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), as well as Ndondo Cup organizers and sponsors engaged young men and boys aged 15-24 in health services—particularly HIV testing and prevention where nearly 10,000 benefited from the services.

MDH Official, Mwinyi Abdallah gives HIV counselling to Fadhili Omary during the Ndondo Cup 2024 final which took place over the weekend in Dar es Salaam.

Football fans in various places of Dar es Salaam follow proceedings of the Ndondo Cup 2024 final which took place over the weekend in Dar es Salaam. 

A referee who officiated the Ndondo Cup 2024 final between Azimio FC and Soccer City gives instructions to one of the Azimio FC player Benson Mugga during the match which took place in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. 

Soccer City FC goalkeeper, Hussein Twalip shouts to his players during the 2024 Ndondo Cup final between Azimio FC and Soccer City FC, a match which took place at the weekend in Dar es Salaam. 

Dar es Salaam - September 1, 2024: The Ndondo Cup 2024 has become a remarkable success story, serving as a powerful platform for health advocacy while significantly boosting HIV and immunization services among youth in Tanzania. This transformative initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Government through the Breakthrough ACTION project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), successfully reached nearly 10,000 youth aged 15-24 with HIV and vaccination services during the tournament in Dar es Salaam.

Focusing on young males aged 15-24—a group traditionally hard to reach for health services—Breakthrough ACTION strategically selected the Ndondo Cup as the perfect opportunity to connect with this audience. In Dar es Salaam, the tournament, drew over 70,000 attendees, among those, nearly 10,000 youth accessed HIV testing and vaccination services on-site, turning sports excitement into an opportunity for proactive health engagement. Complementing these efforts, over 13 million people across the nation were reached through radio and social media campaigns that highlighted the importance of HIV prevention and immunization.

“The Ndondo Cup is a testament to how sports can effectively promote public health,” said Waziri Nyoni, Chief of Party for the Breakthrough ACTION project in Tanzania. “Our collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and U.S. Government service delivery partners, including MDH and EpiC, played a crucial role in breaking down barriers to essential health services for men and youth.”

One participant, Named Fadhili Mussa shared, "I came to watch the match, but when I heard about the health services, I decided to get tested for HIV. The process was easy and made me realize the importance of knowing my status. I also received the COVID-19 vaccine, which I had been postponing. This initiative was convenient and stress-free."

This innovative integration of health and sports sets a new standard for public health improvement in Tanzania, showcasing the power of community engagement in achieving meaningful health outcomes. As the Ndondo Cup continues to inspire health awareness, it highlights the importance of creativity and collaboration in tackling public health challenges across the region.