Mena Friends of Global Fund

Luís Figo, the Portuguese soccer icon and WHO Special Envoy to Stop TB partnered with Jorge Sampaio, visited Jordan on April 30, 2011 to mobilize efforts in regards to fighting TB in Jordan and acknowledge the work done by MOH,  NGOs and private sector agencies who assisted in the success of the implementation of the TB National Program in Jordan. WHO EMRO, MOH, MENA Friends, and other TB NGOS supported technically and financially to ensure the success of this visit done by Luis Figo. 

Luis Figo's visit included meeting with Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein with the ministers, visiting the SOS Children’s Village and playing with the Jordan young football league  in Amman, Jordan, to urge young people to "Run with me to stop TB". Along with the  Jordanian actress Rania Ismael to fight tuberculosis, they went to the hospital that provides medical services for the TB infected  people in Mafraq and urged Jordanians to keep working to defeat such an epidemic infection.

in the end of the day during the press conference Luis Figo stressed on certain facts such as Tuberculosis kills almost 45,000 people daily across the globe. Nine million new cases appear every year, striking adults in their prime and taking a heavy toll on families. Children, too, are vulnerable to tuberculosis. The disease often prevents them from attending school, thus limiting their future.