GENEVA, Switzerland/BEIJING, China/LEIPZIG, Germany: World Health Organization Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has appointed internationally acclaimed film star Jet Li as Goodwill Ambassador. Beijing-born Li, who began studying Chinese martial arts at the age of eight and won his first Chinese national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team three years later, has starred in many movies in the Chinese Film Industry and Hollywood. As Goodwill Ambassador, the film star is expected to use his worldwide celebrity status to promote key health issues, including public health responses to emergencies and mental health.

For example, he recently attended the launch of World Health Day 2009 in Beijing on 7 April, where he spread the World Health Day message of making hospitals safe during emergencies.

“I am very pleased to appoint Jet Li as a Goodwill Ambassador for WHO,” said Dr Chan speaking from Sichuan in China where she was attending an international conference on health responses 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 South Asian tsunami in 2004, Li took a break from acting, turned his attention to philanthropy and set up a charitable foundation. He has been involved in emergency response to earthquakes in China and has set up programmes to help young people cope with psychosocial challenges and find a balance in life.

“I would like to thank WHO for this great honour and opportunity,” Jet Li said in response to his appointment as WHO Goodwill Ambassador. “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”.

(Edited by Daniel Zimmermann)