Barcelona
striker Lionel Messi will stay this weekend in Senegal, to help fight
malaria. He will, in cooperation with the Foundation “Qatar Academy
Aspire” distribute medicines to the local population in order to reduce cases
of malaria.
The Barcelona
star will help distribute mosquito nets to locals in a bid to reduce malaria
outbreaks in the area.
The four-time
Ballon d’Or winner will also attend the official launching of the Soccer for
Health world program that will kick off in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Senegal, Lionel Messi said: “I know my trip to Senegal will be difficult because I will see the suffering that malaria causes, but I know that we have a great chance to use the power of football to help save lives.
Every 90 minutes 180 children die from this horrible disease in Africa, but almost all of these can be avoided by using bed nets. Football Combating Malaria is a very special project to me because I know it will help save thousands of young lives, and I’m delighted to be involved and throw my support behind it.”
FIFA President, Joseph S Blatter has already pledged to support the fight against malaria, along with many players including: Roger Milla (Cameroon), Kolo Toure and Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Frédéric Kanouté (Mali), and Landon Donovan (USA).
