Manchester United's Ferguson Backs UNICEF AIDS Campaign

On Tuesday, top UK soccer club Manchester United said it will support a new UN campaign aimed at focusing worldwide attention on children affected by HIV/AIDS. "We today announce our firm commitment to focus efforts on the issue of AIDS affecting children," said Sir Alex Ferguson, the club's manager. "We recognize that AIDS is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind today."

"At Manchester United, we know about reaching out to young people," said Ferguson, who is also a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. "We have many players who, we believe, are responsible as role models for the younger generation. These players can reach out and communicate vital messages on HIV/AIDS."

The soccer club has worked with UNICEF since 1999 and has donated £1.7 million ($3 million US) to AIDS programs in Asia. The five-year UNICEF campaign seeks to develop programs aimed at preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and infection among adolescents.

Speaking to reporters, Ferguson said, "The statistics are frightening. A child dies of an AIDS-related illness every minute of the day, a young person contracts HIV every 15 seconds globally, and 15 million children have already lost one or both parents to AIDS." The campaign, he said, "comes not a moment too soon."

UNICEF will also work with the US National Basketball Association on raising awareness of the campaign.

Back to other news for October 28, 2005