World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador


WHO Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity advocates of the World Health Organization and use their talent and fame to advocate for health and well-being.

List of Goodwill Ambassadors

WHO Goodwill Ambassadors, and the year they were appointed
AmbassadorCountryTermActions
Amitabh BachchanIndia2017Goodwill ambassador for awareness of Hepatitis
Christine Kaseba-SataZambia2012–2014Doctor, Against Gender-based Violence
Peng LiyuanChina2011Vocal artist. Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS
Jet LiChina2009–2014International film star. Goodwill Ambassador
Yohei SasakawaJapan2001Chairman, Nippon Foundation. Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination
Craig DavidUK2010Singer. Goodwill Ambassador for the Stop TB Partnership
Nancy BrinkerUSA2009Founder, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control
Liya KebedeEthiopia2005Goodwill Ambassador
Sylvie VartanBulgaria2005Goodwill Ambassador
Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraAustria2005Goodwill Ambassador

Other

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 the next day.