World Top Footballers In Anti-Ebola Campaign

World top footballers have become part of “11 against Ebola” campaign aimed at raising awareness over the deadly tropical virus.

The idea was launched by FIFA in cooperation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the World Bank Group and African healthcare experts.

The multimedia campaign goes under the slogan “Together, we can beat Ebola” and under the hashtag #wecanbeatebola in the social media.

The football personalities in separate videos deliver messages on how to prevent and deal with the virus currently ravaging West Africa.

Starting from November 17, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Gareth Bale, Mikel Obi and others will help people understand Ebola problems through animated films, radio content, banners, posters and pictures.

The campaign organizers explained that football is a powerful platform to reach as many people as possible and educate them.

FIFA Chief Medical Officer Prof. Jiří Dvořák, MD said:

“When football talks, everybody listens.”

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.

Those who took part in the campaign include

Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich coach