SPORT IN ACTION EXPANDS BCU INTEGRATED SPORTS TOURNAMENTS ACROSS SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PROVINCES

Sport In Action (SIA), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), with support from GAVI, successfully implemented Integrated Sports Tournaments across Southern and Western Provinces, using sport as a platform for community engagement and the promotion of routine immunisation and health awareness.

Across the six outreach activities conducted in Southern and Western Provinces, Sport In Action directly engaged more than 1,200 participants through integrated sports tournaments while delivering community health sensitisation messages to a total of 7,354 people. The programme also recorded significant health service uptake, with 456 girls receiving the HPV vaccine and 61 children under the age of five accessing missed dose vaccinations. The initiative continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of sport as a platform for promoting immunisation, health awareness, and community participation.

In Southern Province, the Sinafala outreach reached 2,208 people through the tournament, resulting in 53 girls receiving the HPV vaccine and 4 children under five receiving missed dose vaccinations. In Pemba District, 1,178 people were reached, with 39 girls vaccinated against HPV and 20 children receiving missed dose vaccinations.

In Western Province, Situnga under Senanga District reached 720 community members, with 59 girls receiving the HPV vaccine and 27 children under five accessing missed dose vaccinations. At Katongo Facility in Mongu District, 874 people were reached, while 237 girls received HPV vaccinations and 6 children received missed dose vaccinations. Additional HIV testing services were also conducted under the Sport In Action platform. In Nkenga, 1,629 people received health messages, with 45 girls vaccinated against HPV and 1 child receiving a missed dose vaccination. Kasangula outreach activities further reached 745 people, resulting in 23 HPV vaccinations and 3 missed dose vaccinations for children under five.

The success of the programme highlights the importance of using sport as a powerful platform for community mobilisation, awareness creation, and delivery of essential health services. Through football tournaments and community engagement activities, health messages were able to reach large audiences in an interactive and inclusive manner, encouraging participation and improving access to immunisation services in underserved communities.

Sport In Action extends its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Health, Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), GAVI, district health offices, healthcare workers, community volunteers, local leaders, coaches, and all collaborating partners whose commitment and support made the activities possible. Their collective efforts continue to play a critical role in strengthening community health systems and improving the wellbeing of children, adolescents, and families across Zambia.