Immunization initiative thrills USA as Ndondo Cup kicks-off in Dodoma

DODOMA: The U.S. Government celebrated the kick-off of the Ndondo Cup 2024 in Dodoma, marking a key milestone for the tournament, which has previously helped thousands of youth access vital HIV and immunization services.

Organized through the Breakthrough ACTION project in partnership with the Ministry of Health and PO-RALG, the initiative includes campaigns like ‘SITETEREKI,’ which engages young people, and ‘Kuwa Bingwa,’ focused on promoting immunization.

This youth-centered approach has successfully increased uptake of essential health services, including HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and vaccinations for diseases like COVID-19 and HPV, currently operating in six regions with plans to expand to Pwani and Kagera soon.

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Moses Bateganya from USAID stated, “We believe that sports can be a powerful force for promoting behavior change and improving access to services.”

Evangelina Chihoma from PEPFAR highlighted the urgency of focusing on youth, noting, “Engaging young people through initiatives like the Ndondo Cup is a crucial strategy for achieving our objectives.”