Geneva: Qatar organised an event entitled ‘Aligning for Country Impact: 2024 progress report on the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-Being for All’, in collaboration with Germany and Ghana, in Geneva.

Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari attended the event, held on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly. Also present were Minister of Health of the Republic of Ghana H E Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye; Deputy Head of Unit Global Health, German Federal Ministry of Health H E Bjorn Kummel, along with over 60 high-level participants in WHA.

During the event, Dr. Al Kuwari launched the executive summary of the Sport for Health report on promoting health and well-being through sporting events, which includes the main points of work in the Sport for Health programme at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Established in October 2021 between Qatar, WHO and FIFA, the Sport for Health partnership aimed to make the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 healthy and safe and a model for future major sporting events. 

Addressing the event, Dr. Al Kuwari said the programme offered opportunities with the mega sports event serving as a powerful channel for disseminating health messages to millions of people through mass and social media.

She highlighted some challenges including healthy food options to World Cup fans and measuring physical activity progress. She stressed the need for countries and 13 participating agencies to join ranks and resources to accelerate progress in implementing the SDG3 related to Good Health and Well-Being.

Among the speakers was H E Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. He said this report details how Qatar and its stakeholders delivered a healthy and safe World Cup amid a global pandemic.

The report covers the positive local and global impacts of Qatar’s approach and will serve as a guide for countries, Al Thawadi said.