Guha backs AIDS campaign

4 June 2009

Isa Guha is keen to encourage girls and young women "to make sensible life choices" to help prevent infection

England women’s bowler Isa Guha today threw her weight behind the Global AIDS campign, urging young people across the world to ‘THINK WISE’.

Guha is one of five THINK WISE champions – along with South Africa captain Graeme Smith, India opener Virender Sehwag, Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Australia seamer Nathan Bracken – hoping to raise awareness of the disease.

The campaign features messages and information about HIV and aims to educate young people around the world in a bid to help prevent new infections.

“HIV isn’t someone else’s problem,” said Guha. “It’s important that cricketers are not only leaders on the pitch but are also leaders off the pitch.

“I hope that I can encourage girls and young women, in particular, to make sensible life choices.”

Smith added: “I have seen first hand the impact that HIV has had in my country.

“I hope that cricket fans and youngsters around the world can respect the power of the disease and also those living with HIV.”

Sangakkara said: “Being socially responsible is really important for me and the cricket community.

“Initiatives like THINK WISE are vital if we are to address issues around HIV and help empower young people to make informed decisions as they grow up.”