22.10.2011 22:12
Barça joins in the fight against Polio
www.fcbarcelona.cat
The first team players all wore shirts with the slogan “End Polio” before the game against Seville, with the number 99 on the back –a number representing the fact that 99% of the disease has been eradicated.
The Club organised a series of acts to coincide with the game against Seville in support of the
fight against Polio, ahead of the World Polio Day on October 24th. The Club once again showed its
commitment to social action.
The video screen at the Camp Nou also showed the film clip made to mark the alliance between
the Fundació FC Barcelona land the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which was first shown when
the deal was announced in the summer and contains images of some of the great Barça heroes, as well
as stressing the Club’s commitment to fight Polio.
The Fundació FC Barcelona and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are currently preparing
a new video, featuring Bill Gates, Sandro Rosell and Pep Guardiola, which will be released on
Monday October 24th.
Polio still present
Polio is an infectious disease which affects the nervous system and can lead to irreversible
paralysis. The disease mainly attacks children and young people. Although the Department of Health
of the Generalitat reports that the last known case of the disease in Catalonia was reported in
1983, but it is still present in a number of countries.
Since 1988 nearly 2,5 billion children have been vaccinated against Polio and the incidence
of the disease has diminished by 99%, though it is still present in Asia and Africa.