Didier Drogba receives treatment for malaria
According to his manager Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has received treatment for malaria.
The Ivory Coast international has been reduced to making substitute appearances for the club, as he has not been at peak fitness for the last two games, due to the illness.
Drogba was only able to make a second-half appearance in the 2-0 English Premier League loss to Liverpool on Sunday, 7 November, after he complaining of a fever the day before the game.
While his lack of fitness was initially believed to be due to a virus, it was soon discovered that he had contracted malaria. However, he has now recovered and will be ready to play in the match against Fulham on Wednesday.
Ancelotti told the club’s official website, "A test showed malaria. He lost his condition, he lost power. He missed training. Didier had a difficulty to train because he didn't feel good, he didn't have power to train, he didn't have ability to train, he lost
some condition. He was unselfish to play also when he was not 100 per cent.
"He was treated during this time. He had a fever, then he was treated. He suffered obviously, because he was not 100 per cent but after treatment, he will be better. One time it was serious, now it is a little bit different, now there is
the possibility to treat and come back well. He is okay. Tomorrow he will play."
Meanwhile, the club have announced that they have teamed up with their charity partner, Right To Play, to support the United Against Malaria program.
The scheme brought together world leaders, influential organizations and key figures from the world of sport ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa in order to fight the disease that kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds.
The initiative aims to eradicate the disease by urging families to sleep under mosquito nets and aims to wipe out the disease by the 2014 World Cup.
Drogba welcomed the announcement, and told reporters, "It is an important message we have to send. A net can seem like nothing, but at the same time it can save a lot of lives just by protecting people when they sleep. It is very important in countries where
malaria happens more. (The Didier Drogba Foundation) is involved because the objective of the foundation is health. We buy a lot of nets to give to people every year to help prevent malaria."
Tags: