Milkha Singh appointed WHO ambassador

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

Sprint legend Milkha Singh has been appointed WHO goodwill ambassador for physical activity in South-East Asia Region.

“Promoting physical activity for health is an important intervention, which is expected to get a significant boost in the region with the support of octogenarian Milkha Singh, a champion for the cause,” said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Regular exercise and physical activity helps reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer — diseases that are now increasingly afflicting people across the world, the official said. 

An estimated 8.5 million people die due to NCDs every year in WHO South-East Asia region, she added.

An alarming 70 per cent  of boys, eight per cent of girls and nearly 33 per cent adults in the region report insufficient physical activity, she said.

“As WHO goodwill ambassador, Milkha Singh will promote WHO South-East Asia region’s NCD prevention and control action plan which seeks to reduce the level of insufficient physical activity by 10 per cent and NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025,” said Khetrapal Singh.

WHO recommends at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children and 150 minutes of weekly activity for adults to stave off non-communicable diseases. Physical activity helps those aged 65 years and above to maintain cognitive functioning and reduce the risk of depression. 

“Whatever the age group, gender, physical ability, or socio-economic background, being physically active is an effective way to ensure a healthy and productive life,” said the Regional Director said.

“With the support of Milkha Singh, we expect to promote and scale up physical activity in the region to be able to arrest and reverse the NCD epidemic,” she said.