November 18, 2014 – Top rated footballers across the world have teamed up in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
The disease currently ravages West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 5, 165 people have died of the ailment.
They footballers taking part in the campaign include Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Didier Drogba and Philipp Lahm. Others are Mikel Obi, Pep Guardiola, Gareth Bale, Gerald Pique, Raphael Varane, Xavi and Jerome Boateng.
In the new campaign “11 Against Ebola”, these international players from around the world join forces to promote preventative measures against Ebola virus.
Using the message, “Together, we can beat Ebola” and the hashtag #wecanbeatebola, players share 11 simple health messages selected with the help of doctors and health experts from Africa, the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization, among the organizations tackling the outbreak in West Africa.
Speaking at the event, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said it is inspiring to see the world’s top football players come together to help in the fight against Ebola,” .
“By spreading important health messages to children, families, and communities in the Ebola-affected countries, the power of their celebrity will literally help save lives.”
The World Bank Group is mobilizing about $1 billion to finance Ebola in countries hardest hit by the Ebola crisis. This includes more than $500 million for the emergency response and to help speed up the deployment of foreign health workers to the countries and an additional $450 million from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group.
