William Troost-Ekong leads charge against neglected tropical diseases that affect Nigerians
- William Troost-Ekong has started a campaign against neglected tropical diseases
- The Super Eagles star is currently in Egypt preparing for the 2019 Nations Cup
- Nigeria will face Burundi in their AFCON 2019 first game on Saturday, June 22
Super Eagles defender William Ekong has began a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases that is affecting millions of Nigerian citizens.
The campaign is in connection with the END Fund and Common Goal in whch William appeared to have called on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment.
Such diseases that Super Eagles star William Ekong is leading charge against include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis.
Neglected tropical diseases are 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.
Ekong who is currently with the Super Eagles team in Egypt where they are preparing for the 2019 Nations Cup took to his official social media platform to make the calls.
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“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.
“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,'' Ekong explained.
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Meanwhile, Ekong who plays for Italian club Udinese is expected to play for Nigeria in their first game against Burundi at the 2019 Nations Cup in Egypt on Saturday, June 22.
Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how Nigeria’s Super Eagles will smile to the bank with $4.5m prize money if the Gernot Rohr’s tutored-side emerges victorious at the forthcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
According to the report, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed in April 2019 that prize money totaling $14.2 million would be shared between the best eight teams at AFCON 2019 as prize money.
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Source: Legit.ng
