PROJECTS: SPIN FOR LIFE

Thousands of people have learned their HIV status through a dynamic BEN Namibia campaign.

Working with Intrahealth, New Start Testing Centres, and NawaLife Trust, Spin for Life campaigns have been launched in a dozen communities across Namibia, with more campaigns planned in the months to come.

In each campaign bicycles are offered as prizes in a draw to anyone who receives a HIV-test. Additionally, Team BEN Namibia cyclists tour to numerous voluntary testing centres and promote the importance of knowing your HIV status and getting testing for HIV, in particular among young men. As community mobilisers, the cyclists meet thousands of people and use media exposure as platforms for awareness. The following key prevention messages are focus points:

1. Regular physical activity helps young people to achieve focus and discipline, and provides a positive alternative to risky behavior.
2. Getting tested for HIV/AIDS and knowing one’s status is part of being a responsible adult.
3. To test positive is not the end of life. Regular exercise, good nutrition, sharing status with friends and support groups can lead to a positive and healthy life.
4. Abstaining from sex, maintaining a monogamous relationship, testing with one’s partner, careful and proper use of condoms, and understanding the disease can prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Each of the campaigns has seen a dramatic spike in the number of people getting tested for HIV. Aside from testing, at all Spin for Life events there are a number of young people who can not get tested without a guardian but spend a long time with the team cyclists, are exposed to a video which includes HIV messages and participate in HIV-knowledge contests.

This pdf shows the estimated numbers of people participating in the launch of the events, when Team BEN Namibia visits various communities and sets up a dynamic display featuring team members on trainers and exercise bikes, screenings of bicycle racing DVDs, lucky draw competitions, condom demonstrations and HIV quizzes. Further, the team actively encourages people to get tested by going into communities and distributing promotional information, ie pamphlets.