International film star Jet Li has been appointed as World Health Organization goodwill ambassador by WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan.
In his first official function as goodwill ambassador, Li will attended the launch of World Health Day in Beijing on April 7 to help spread the World Health Day message of making hospitals safe during emergencies.
Li is expected to use his worldwide celebrity to raise attention on key health issues, including public health responses to emergencies and mental health.
"I am very pleased to appoint Jet Li as a Goodwill Ambassador for WHO," said Dr. Chan speaking from Sichuan where she attended an international conference on health response to natural disasters.
"Jet Li's commitment to promoting community involvement and young people's participation in social and health issues will be a great asset to WHO's work. He has been personally involved in providing emergency response following natural disasters and has promoted mental health amongst youth. We are grateful that he is willing to use his energy and fame to promote health and well-being," Dr. Chan said.
After experiencing the 2004 South Asian tsunami, Li took a break from acting and turned his attention to philanthropy and set up a charitable foundation. He has been involved in the emergency response to earthquakes in China and has also set up programs to help young people to cope with psychosocial challenges and find a balance in life.
On his appointment as WHO goodwill ambassador, Jet Li said: "I would like to thank WHO for this great honor and opportunity. Health is essential to the well-being of humanity, and I am very happy that WHO trusts me to take on this important responsibility. If we do not take care of our bodies, we will not be able to do many things. This is our common belief, and I will do my very best to spread this shared belief to the world."
