Three-time African player of the year Yaya Toure joined actor Idris Elba and a host of international footballers to launch a public awareness campaign to help halt West Africa's Ebola epidemic and recognise the health workers fighting the deadly disease.
The worst Ebola outbreak on record has killed more than 6,000 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the three countries worst affected by the epidemic.
The Africa United campaign, unveiled ahead of the African Cup of Nations draw in Equatorial Guinea's capital Malabo on Wednesday, broadcasts information on the disease and how to stop it spreading in French, English, Krio and other local languages.
Messages will be sent out to the three countries and their neighbours via television, radio, billboards and phone text messages, said organisers.
Manchester City midfielder Toure hails from Ivory Coast, which shares borders with three countries hit by the disease but has so far been spared.
'I could not sit back without doing something to help fight Ebola,' said Toure. '(The campaign) pays tribute to the many, many African heroes who are in the villages, towns and cities using their skills, resourcefulness and intelligence to battle Ebola.'
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