By Chrysanthus Ikeh
‘The Africa United Campaign’ launched on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, to help fight get rid of the Ebola virus disease before the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea has seen some footballers and a Hollywood actor take part in the awareness campaign.
Footballers who have joined the campaign include: Ivory Coast and Manchester City striker, Yaya Toure, France legend, Patrick Vieira, Sierra Leone and Columbus Crew star, Kei Kamara, former footballer, Fabrice Muamba along with England footballers, Andros Townsend, Carlton Cole and Hollywood actor, Idris Alba.
Speaking on ‘The Africa United campaign’ Yaya Toure said: ‘I could not sit back without doing something to help fight Ebola, ‘(The campaign) pays tribute to the many, many African heroes who are in the villages, towns and cities using their skills, resourcefulness and intelligence to battle Ebola.’
While Idris Alba whose parent are from Sierra Leone and Ghana said:
‘For me the battle against Ebola is a personal one, ‘to see those amazing countries in West Africa where my father grew up and my parents married being ravaged by this disease is painful and horrific.’
The campaign was backed by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
