Promoting general health and wellbeing while raising awareness on H.I.V. and sexually transmitted infections is the mantra behind a fun day hosted by the Samoa Fa'afafine Association (S.F.A.) over the weekend in Savai'i. 

Held at the Don Bosco compound at Salelologa, the event was hailed a success all thanks to the generosity of the United National Development Program (U.N.D.P.) Global Fund which provided financial assistance for the event. 

The S.F.A. Executive members travelled to Savai'i to support and ensure that their members in Savai'i get to enjoy the coordinated sports day as part of their ongoing community outreach against H.I.V. and STI.

S.F.A. hosted a separated sports day for their members in Upolu in July this year for the same purpose. Moreover, another goal of the event was to gather the members so they get to know each other and build a strong relationship.

The S.F.A. Project Coordinator and Organiser, Lauano Ashley Ausage-Lauano, hailed this year's event a success. 

"It is now one of our main events annually as we started this for our members in Savai'i last year and they requested to have it as an annual event," Lauano told the Samoa Observer. 

"The purpose is to ensure and encourage our members to get tested and to raise awareness on sexually transmitted diseases. 

"We have collaborated with the Ministry of Health and we are using the expertise of our members who are nurses and doctors to implement and deliver our message for our members. 

"The general health and well-being of our members is very important to us hence why we try and make this an annual event and also have it as a fun day so we can gather our members from different walks of life and get to enjoy, while also promoting healthy living."

Lauano added that according to the records and surveys conducted by the M.O.H. none of their members tested positive for H.I.V. or any other STI and they want to maintain that record while encouraging members to get tested. 

"This activity provided us the opportunity to remind our members to get tested and to also bring them in together as we have a lot of members here in Savai'i but we never actually bring them all together.

"So this is a great way to bring in our members and build a strong bond and relationship with our members, and at the same time, promote our message and encourage them to get tested. 

"It's also good to gather our members here in Savai'i and inspire them so they could be on board with our association and help us achieve our goals and plans for our fa'afafine community."

The members in Savai'i were divided into six teams: Fa'asaleleaga, Amoa, Salega, Palauli, Itu-o-Asau and Itu-o-Tane. The organisers arranged fun games for the six teams with Fa’asaleleaga Queens coming out overall winners of the Savai'i S.F.A. Fun Games.