WHO Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal status and job description assigned to those goodwill ambassadors and advocates who are designated by the United Nations. WHO goodwill ambassadors are celebrity advocates of the World Health Organization (WHO) and use their talent and fame to advocate for health and well-being.

Current WHO goodwill ambassadors

Current goodwill ambassadors, and the year they were appointed:[1]

Ambassador Country Term Actions
Amitabh Bachchan  India 2017 Goodwill ambassador for awareness of Hepatitis[2]
Christine Kaseba-Sata  Zambia 2012–2014 Doctor, Against Gender-based Violence[3]
Peng Liyuan  China 2011 Vocal artist. Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS[4]
Jet Li  China 2009–2014 International film star. Goodwill Ambassador [5]
Yohei Sasakawa  Japan 2001 Chairman, Nippon Foundation. Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination
Craig David  United Kingdom 2010 Singer. Goodwill Ambassador for the Stop TB Partnership
Nancy Brinker  United States 2009 Founder, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control [6]
Liya Kebede  Ethiopia 2005 Goodwill Ambassador
Sylvie Vartan  Bulgaria 2005 Goodwill Ambassador
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra  Austria 2005 Goodwill Ambassador

Cancellation of status

On 21 October 2017 the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appointed Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe as a WHO goodwill ambassador to help tackle non-communicable diseases for Africa. The appointment address praised Mugabe for his commitment to public health in Zimbabwe. The naming attracted widespread condemnation in WHO member states and international organisations due to Mugabe's poor record on human rights and presiding over a decline in Zimbabwe's public health. Following widespread criticism, Tedros Adhanom was forced to withdraw the appointment (cancel the title) the next day.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Goodwill ambassadors. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
  2. ^ Correspondent, Special. "Bachchan appointed WHO ambassador for hepatitis". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  3. ^ Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata, WHO Goodwill Ambassador against Gender-based Violence. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
  4. ^ WHO appoints Chinese singer and health activist as Goodwill Ambassador. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
  5. ^ Jet Li, WHO Goodwill Ambassador. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
  6. ^ Nancy Goodman Brinker appointed Goodwill Ambassador. Retrieved 22/05/2015.
  7. ^ "WHO cancels Robert Mugabe goodwill ambassador role". BBC. October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  8. ^ "Director General rescinds Goodwill Ambassador appointment". WHO. October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.

External links

Categories