HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and senior leaders from Qatar's healthcare sector on Sunday took part in the World Health Organisation's 'Walk the Talk: Health For All Challenge' in Geneva.Ahead of the start of the walk, Dr Ghebreyesus presented HE Dr al-Kuwari with a special Director-General's Health Champions 2022 award in recognition of her outstanding advocacy in global health promotion and security.HE Dr al-Kuwari was invited as a guest of honour and joined Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, and thousands of members of the local Geneva community at WHO's third 'Walk the Talk' event, held ahead of the 75th World Health Assembly taking place from May 22-28 in Geneva.The event offered participants the opportunity to walk, run or use a wheelchair over a 3- or 4.2-km route. In addition to those taking part in person in Geneva, thousands of people from across the world participated remotely via the 'Walk the Talk' mobile app.The 'Walk the Talk' initiative aims to encourage people to be physically active and mentally well to support their health.
Speaking at the event, HE Dr al-Kuwari said: "I would like to thank Dr Tedros for generously inviting myself and my colleagues from Qatar to be part of this wonderful event. I am deeply grateful to be honoured with the Director-General's Health Champions award, which is testament to the incredible work of tens of thousands of dedicated healthcare professionals in Qatar thanks to the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, for the health sector at various levels."I am proud of our close collaboration with WHO, especially through our Healthy FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 — Creating a Legacy for Sport and Health partnership along our friends at FIFA and Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Today's event is one of the many activities we are working together on under our partnerships health promotion pillar as we continue our commitment to promote physical and mental health to people around the world."Dr Tedros said: "It was my honour to present a 2022 Health Champions award to Dr al-Kuwari for her leadership and action in promoting the health and safety of people in the State of Qatar. WHO greatly appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Qatar on events like 'Walk the Talk' and other major sporting activities, like the FIFA World Cup being held later this year in Doha. Such initiatives demonstrate the great potential of sport to help people enjoy higher levels of physical and mental health."In October this year, the Ministry of Public Health and WHO will collaborate to host 'Walk the Talk Doha', building on the success of the Geneva events to bring this initiative to Qatar for the first time.Details of the October event will be announced soon. (QNA)