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Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong leads the campaign to save 120 million Nigerians affected by neglected tropical diseases

In a 48 seconds public service announcement, the 25-year-old calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment.
William Troost-Ekong (Common Goal)
William Troost-Ekong (Common Goal)

Just before he focuses only on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has announced that he is starting a campaign to save 129 million Nigerians that have been affected by neglected tropical diseases. 

Ekong who is expected to play a key role for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2019 in Egypt is leading the campaign to draw attention to a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affect more than 1.5 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 869 million children. 

The diseases include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma and lymphatic filariasis. 

In a 48 seconds public service announcement, the 25-year-old calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment. 

The Udinese defender is leading this campaign in partnership with the END Fund, the only private philanthropic initiative which was founded in 2012 and solely dedicated to ending the five most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and Common Goal, the global movement that aims to unite the entire world of football behind a shared mission to transform the world for the better.  

Like the rest of the team, I joined Common Goal because I wanted to use football as a tool to make a difference. I’m proud that we’re partnering with the END Fund to challenge every Nigerian to tackle neglected tropical diseases or NTDs,” William says in the video.

600 million people in Africa need treatment for these diseases with over 120 million living in Nigeria alone.

“Football is a powerful force in Nigeria and as a footballer and parent, I believe we should do everything we can to end these preventable and treatable diseases that stand between you and your goals.

So the next time a health worker comes to your school, community or place of worship make sure you take the free medicine that they are giving out. Keep the ball rolling – spread the word to your family and friends and let’s be the generation to beat NTDs.”

Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, Director and National Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, described the campaign as an important opportunity to bring attention to NTDs in the country.  

We are very delighted to have William join the Federal Ministry of Health and our partners in Nigeria’s fight against neglected tropical diseases, we hope that this campaign helps to highlight the importance of the fight against NTDs in Nigeria and across the continent,” Dr Anyaike said.

The campaign will run on local radio and television stations during the months of June and July across the following states: Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It will also feature on digital platforms nationwide as well and include targeted SMS messaging. 

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