13th Matchday of the Super League OPAP is dedicated to the AIDS awareness campaign

Super League, in view of the World AIDS Day on December 1st and in collaboration with the Hellenic Association for the Study and Control of AIDS, will dedicate the 13th Matchday of the Super League OPAP Championship, which will be held on 30/11/2013 & 1-2/12/2013, to the fight against AIDS.

 

The goal of this initiative is to inform and raise the awareness of the public as regards the AIDS disease, which poses a really important issue for public health both in Greece and abroad. AIDS worldwide has an annual decrease as regards new cases, whereas in Greece there is an increase; in 2011 there was a 57% increase in the number of documented cases and the rising trend also continued in 2012.

 

The president of Super League, Mr Yannis Moralis, stated the following:

"The main objective of this is initiative is to inform the fans and in particular young people, no matter which club they support, because through prevention and essentially precaution, we can raise a wall against AIDS.  Super League will always support such information and awareness efforts, as it has proven several times in the past. The role of football and sports in general is not limited on the pitch. It has a wider appeal and affects the whole of society."

 

Mr Marios Lazanas, president of the Hellenic Association for the Study and Control of AIDS (EEMAA), stated the following:

"According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, since 2001 there has been a 33% decrease in new virus infections caused by HIV infection / AIDS. On the contrary, in our country, since 2010, there has been a significant increase in cases, from 5.4 to 10.7 per 100,000 people. It should be noted that 80% of the affected people are men and 65% are between 25 and 44 years of age. The main cause behind this rise is the insufficient information and the non-application of certain precautions. This plague, that affects the liveliest and more active part of our society, led the Hellenic Association for the Study and Control of AIDS (EEMAA) and Super League to this joint effort to inform young people and raise their awareness on the subject."

 

NOTE TO REPORTERS

The Hellenic Association for the Study and Control of AIDS (EEMAA) is the sole scientific association which operates in the HIV infection / AIDS field since the beginning of the disease in 1987. Its main goals are to educate and train the health professionals in HIV infection / AIDS by organising 25 national conferences, dozens of seminars, courses and meetings in Athens and regional cities. EEMAA also operates in the very significant fields of raising the awareness, informing and educating the public on issues of prevention, by organising campaigns in the media and events in municipalities, clubs, schools and professional groups such as professors, police officers and firemen.