GIANT billboards featuring three United stars are at the heart of a campaign to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone.

International children's charity UNICEF says 1.5 per cent of the African country's population are already infected with one of the diseases.

Though that is relatively low compared to other African countries, the number of reported cases has increased by a staggering 75 per cent in the past five years.

Unicef hopes the TV, radio and billboard campaign featuring United stars Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Partrice Evra will slow the diseases' spread by getting across key messages about the need for testing and safe sexual practices.

The campaign, featuring messages from each player, will run nationwide from January.

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