HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

THROUGH SPORTS:A CASE STUDY OF COBAP- UGANDA

BY RACHEL GUTTABINGI V.S.

IntroductionGood Health is an important asset every one must have and it is craved for worldwide yet its ideal is scarce in different levels depending on where one is. It is a paramount responsibility of every one to find leverage to the best of it. A sport is a tool that can take us extra miles when used strategically as platform for health improvement and education.

World Health Organization defines Health thus:“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable Standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being with our. Distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” WHO Constitution, 1946.

According to recent year’s assessment, by WHO, the leading causes of mortality and disease burden worldwide are HIV/AIDS, Unipolar depressive disorders, Ischaemic heart disease.It continues to say that through its experience and scientific evidence show that regular participation in appropriate physical activity and sport provides people wide range of physical, social and mental health benefits. Physical activity and sport support strategies Therefore, well-designed sports for health initiatives are beneficial.

Brief background

COBAP-UGANDA is civil society organization that started in 1998 as a group of health volunteers, which later became an organization that embraces sports, as a powerful and inspiring tool in changing communities. It has a vision to have communities transformed in all aspects of life and its mission is to build people’s capacity to realise their full potential.

It has taken sports very seriously and designed an integrated sports program to address various social issues including health, targeting young people in poor sub-urban areas, which have yielded great results.

Many addicts of drugs and alcohol are rehabilitated, improved health practices and economic livelihood realized, several vulnerable youth becoming national and international stars in sports, some excelling in academics while others have become leaders in the society thus good citizens able to contribute to national development and to further social transformation.

COBAP steps on sports power to attract motivate and inspire in its efforts to mobilize and empower communities to take action that improves health especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other related social issues; through various strategies.

STRATEGIES USED BY COBAP AND OUTCOMES

1. INTEGRATED SPORTS EVENTS; Health related sports tournaments are organized covering entire program area with pre-action and criteria set to include health education e.g. Anti AIDS football league where everyone registering must attend HIV/AIDS workshops and answer questions of articulation and must come with 2 people mobilized for HIV voluntary blood testing on the match day. Thus the awarding of points depends on goals scored and the health activities involved in by the teams.

Different mind sports are organized alongside health themes, simulations of disease prevention, social education topics. It is prerequisite for every group to mobilize audience for their simulation. Then mind sport competition.

Junior sports leagues in schools are organized where players are required to attend COBAP schools health clubs where health issues are debated on regular basis prior the league. These get involved in child to child mobilization for health improvement.

Health related games are designed for children below the ages of 12 where thematic health aspects and other social transformation education is communicated through games. Thereafter, evaluation to verify articulation is done.

Interactive camps for sports boys and girls are organized where follow up on health awareness, behavioral change, rehabilitation from drugs and habits formation is done.

Health awareness campaigns are organized spearheaded by sports boys and girls of different disciplines. These organize village based events set together with health education and social economic activities.

2. Health rallies are organized around the communities involving sports boys especially cyclists who move around distributing IEC materials that are designed to communicate health messages and later invite the community to health films.

3. Through sports boys and girls Community and family networks are created.

4. Sports boys and girls are involved in community disease prevention campaigns e.g. malaria prevention campaigns, community cleaning and the like.

5. Through sports activities, COBAP has identified and trained mentors of the society in health and other social transformation programmes.

6. COBAP has established a conducive community base for follow up on health, education, counseling child advocacy, poverty and other social issues.

5. Self help projects for those that are redundant.

COBAP-UGANDA EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES:

The community is mobilized for social action and there are a number of health activities that were initiated by sports boys continuing e.g. clearing trenches for malaria prevention in the community despite the limited capacity and resources

Sports campaign have reduced HIV AIDs stigma in the community because of interaction and integration of everybody to support their teams and they forget their social differences and conflicts.

Youth once violent are rehabilitated after finding belonging and addicts get off drug and other deviant behaviors.

People that were once marginalized and hopeless find position in society; their self esteem is enhanced through sports hence the society has entrusted them with leadership positions.

The health messages on sports grounds have increased health seeking habit among those that participate.(people come to the centre voluntarily after sports events).

Those that have excelled in sports, it is not only a talent it has become a job now; thus their economic status including their livelihood has improved.

Leadership development through sports has increased community resource people who can initiate health and other programs on their own in the community though small but it gives hope.

Many agents have come to COBAP to Network in social and health related programs e.g. Baylor college of medicine, Viva and Crane Networks, Transform Uk, Tear Fund UK. ACET Uganda, UHCF, Uganda AIDS Commission and The Local Government Uganda and Churchs.

COBAP has acted as a model to many grass root projects with in and outside Uganda.

Lessons learnt

Grass root initiatives can guide major programs if well analyzed and supported as models

The impact of sports should not be just highlighted but grabbed and used for greater developments

Health and Social Transformation is pivot of all human endeavors and sports can move it an extra mile

Challenges : Poor social Economic status and ignorance in the

community

Excessive demand against meager resources

Poor program prioritization at national policy levels.

Demands Social cultural barriers Overwhelming work load

Recommendations Sports organization should design programs

that integrate sports with spheres that address different aspects of life – fan, skill, health, economic, social and spiritual enhancement etc

Grass root studies are necessary before designing sports programs that aim at addressing social issues.

There are a lot of resources in competitive sports it is time to divert a bigger portion into sports for social transformation.

Multi-sectoral approaches to health improvement and other social issues should be adapted; boost the inclusion of sports ventures at different levels

More studies should be encouraged in these areas.

References: ACET Uganda, COBAP Evaluation, 2008 Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO), 1946 Rachel S.V. G, (2003). “ Needs of unemployed youth in Uganda,” Rachel S.V. G, ( 1998) ``Assessment of adolescent reproductive health

problems and services provided in Kampala suburbs`` WHO, World Health Report 2003 – Shaping the Future 3

ContactsEMAIL:

cobap2001@Yahoo.com, ragumavs@yahoo.com

WEB: www.cobap-uganda.org