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The African football star Samuel Eto’o has launched a “Stop COVID-19” campaign through his foundation. The Samuel Eto’o Private Foundation’s programme consists of mass and local awareness-raising activities, to promote regular handwashing, as well as the distribution of handwashing kits containing clean water, bleach and soap.

Some 50,000 “Stop COVID-19” kits will be distributed in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, and in the cities of Buea, Yaoundé and Bafoussam. These donations, which comprise hygiene kits and foodstuffs, are intended for the most vulnerable households in society.

In addition to this initiative, 1,000 footballers who play in Cameroon but have not been paid because of the COVID-19 pandemic will also receive hygiene kits and food supplies.

The foundation and its partners aim to slow the pandemic’s spread. In this context, an appeal was made for Cameroonian artisans to manufacture 50,000 washable masks that meet health standards. The masks, which will predominantly be for taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers, who represent one of the most at-risk socio-professional sectors after medical personnel, will be given to trade union representatives for redistribution among their respective members.

As part of efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation set up by Bismack Biyombo, the Congolese basketball player who plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA, has donated $1 million in medical equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The donation consisted of four containers, which included 10,000 face masks and 780 protective suits for use in health-care facilities.

Given the social and economic implications of the possible spread of the virus and the vulnerability of the local people, Bismack considers it essential to help the Congolese health-care system as it faces this health crisis. Indeed, the country has been affected by several outbreaks of contagious diseases in recent years, including Ebola, and thus remains vulnerable.

Bismack encourages people to respect the preventive measures in place and has paid tribute to the efforts of all those on the front line working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following President Macky Sall’s call for the establishment of an emergency fund of 1,000 billion CFA francs (approximately €1.5 billion), members of the national football team have made their contribution.

In collaboration with the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), a sum of around 100 million CFA francs (approximately €168,000) was gathered and paid into the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s special “FORCE COVID-19” account.

Products necessary for preserving the health of citizens, such as masks and hand sanitiser gel, and medical equipment were also donated.

Players and their clubs are supporting an increasing number of individual and collective initiatives to tackle the coronavirus, ranging from providing practical advice, calling for compliance with hygiene guidelines, and making financial donations.

As of 15 September 2020, Senegal has recorded 14,529 confirmed cases, 10,692 patients recovered, 298 deaths and 3,539 individuals receiving treatment.

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