Didier Drogba, the legendary footballer from Cote d’Ivoire, has been named the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health.
The statement was made at a ceremony to kick off the “Healthy 2022 World Cup, Creating Legacy for Sport and Health” cooperation between Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health and its Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the World Health Organization, and FIFA, the sport’s governing body.
The two-time African Player of the year will work with the WHO to promote the organization’s guidelines on the benefits of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles, as well as the importance of sports, especially for young people.
In a statement on Monday, the WHO hailed Drogba’s “long track record of participating in various health campaigns such as healthy lifestyles, anti-malaria, and HIV prevention and control.”
“I am honored to team up with the World Health Organization and support its work to help people reach the highest level of health possible, especially young people in all countries,” said Drogba during his ambassadorship announcement event at WHO’s Geneva headquarters.
“I have benefited first hand from the power of sports to lead a healthy life and I am committed to working with WHO to share such gains worldwide.”
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed Drogba as a dedicated advocate for the health and sustainable development of communities.
*This article was written by Gerald Gekara for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
