11international football stars have joined FIFA, CAF and health experts to raise global awareness and promote preventative measures to fight the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.
The campaign which was launched today November 17, 2014 under the slogan “Together, we can beat Ebola” and the hashtag #wecanbeatebola features;
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Neymar Jr, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm, Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Neymar Jr. (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Jérôme Boateng (Bayern Munich), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea).
“It is so important that we get the right information to those affected by the Ebola outbreak. We all hope this positive campaign will improve people’s understanding of the Ebola virus and help us to reduce the chances of it spreading. Let’s all get behind this campaign to help our brothers and sisters in the worst-hit regions. Together, we can beat Ebola.”
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Brazil/Barcelona star, Neymar Jnr was quoted on FIFA website.
Players are expected to share health message like “Report unusual illnesses” and “Cook meat properly” using animated films, radio content, banners, posters and pictures.
FIFA Chief Medical Officer Prof. Jiří Dvořák, MD said: “We doctors have experienced the power of football when it comes to prevention and health, while successfully implementing the ‘FIFA 11 for Health’ programme in 15 African countries as part of the medical legacy of 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Now we are using the same system to tackle Ebola, by presenting simple educational messages to prevent the spread of the disease through the voices of football stars – ‘When football talks, everybody listens’.”
FIFA President Sepp Blatter added: “The popularity of football gives us a unique platform to reach all communities. We hope that football can play its part and that this campaign against Ebola can make a real difference on the ground as the world comes together to fight the virus and to help those living in affected communities.”
According to the World Health Organization, as of 9 November, a total of 14,098 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported in six countries. There have been 5,160 deaths. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have seen the highest number of cases.
Click below to watch the campaigns’ videos:
http://bit.ly/wecanbeatebola
The 11 against Ebola messages
1. Report unusual illnesses: please report any unusual illnesses or deaths in your community.
2. Know the symptoms: do you have a fever with a loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, pain, vomiting, bleeding or diarrhoea? Know the symptoms of Ebola.
3. Seek immediate medical help: please seek urgent medical help if you have a fever with additional symptoms.
4. Avoid body contact: avoid direct, skin and body contact with anyone suffering from Ebola.
5. Wash your hands and disinfect: wash your hands regularly and disinfect anything touched by suspected or confirmed Ebola sufferers.
6. Wear proper protection: wear gloves and proper protective clothing if you are caring for an Ebola sufferer, and get the right instruction for the use of protective clothing.
7. Cook meat properly: cook all meat and animal products thoroughly before consumption.
8. Always practise safe sex: use protection if you are having sex with anyone recovering from Ebola.
9: Avoid contact with wild animals and bats: wild animals and bats can carry the Ebola virus. Avoid them.
10. Do not touch the dead: avoid direct contact with dead Ebola victims or anyone who has died from a strange disease.
11. Seek help for safe burials: please seek help from local authorities to bury any victims of Ebola or strange diseases.