And lucky for PSI, too, as Clarisse, a professional basketball player for the Orlando Miracle of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), has just agreed to use her ability attracting attention to join forces with PSI in fighting AIDS in her native Mozambique.

Clarisse has returned to Mozambique to make herself available to PSI/Mozambique for such activities as launching a Renascer voluntary HIV counseling and testing center, producing TV and/or radio spots, posing for posters/billboards and making personal appearances at PSI promotional events.

The Pfizer Foundation is providing $150,000 to PSI for HIV/AIDS behavior change communication in Mozambique, and much of that will be used to support Clarisse's work with PSI. PSI's collaboration with Pfizer in Mozambique marks the beginning of an expanded collaboration between PSI and multinational pharmaceutical companies.

PSI's strategy in Mozambique is to expand the number and frequency of mass media and public education vehicles and interpersonal communications campaigns, and to strengthen their appeal with the use of Mozambican celebrities, such as Clarisse, popular with youth aged 13-24.

"Clarisse Machanguana is a huge star in Mozambique and having her speak out about HIV/AIDS will help enormously in PSI's work in having Mozambicans learn about how to protect themselves," says Vice President Will Warshauer, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The WNBA is very supportive and will donate jerseys and basketballs to be given away during Clarisse's promotional events in Mozambique.

Clarisse's personal history reads like something out of a movie. She began playing basketball in Mozambique at age 6. When she was 19, Clarisse moved to Portugal to attend prep school and play basketball. A scout from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, who was there to see another player, discovered Clarisse. She went to Old Dominion and majored in criminal justice (she earned a grade point average of 3.7). She had a distinguished basketball record at Old Dominion and led her team to the 1997 NCAA title game. Her jersey was retired in November 2000.

She hadn't thought of playing professionally until she was drafted during her last year of college in 1997 by the San Jose Lasers. She was the Lasers' first pick. She averaged 10.2 points per game with the Lasers in 1998. She also played with the Los Angeles Sparks and the Charlotte Sting before the Orlando Miracle acquired her in 2002 for the No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA draft.

Clarisse is deeply concerned about the AIDS epidemic and believes professional athletes have an obligation to give back to society.

"It has always been my belief that professional athletes are in an excellent position to leverage what they have accomplished to serve and give back to society," says Clarisse. "Some athletes will tutor, others visit hospitals, donate to charities or give back to the neighborhoods where they grew up. These are all great, but I, on the other hand, wanted to figure out the best way to give back, and I think maybe I did."

She used to think that she would give back by paving the way for other Africans to play basketball or help her people with her law degree. But now, "in light of the destruction AIDS is causing throughout my continent, my former plan to give back through basketball or the law seems so small," she says.

"I can only hope that this small approach of mine, this cry for help, this cry for action, and this attempt to educate others about the incredible threat of AIDS in Africa, brings awareness to those with the power to help, the power to hear and the power to do something about the cries of so many African people. It's an issue of morality."

— David J. Olson, Senior Manager, Public Affairs

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Pro basketball player Clarisse Machanguana, here with PSI Vice President Will Warshauer, plans to help PSI/Mozambique fight HIV/AIDS.