‘FIFA 11 for Health’ to kick off in Sri Lanka
View(s):A FIFA Presidential initiative, ‘FIFA 11 for Health’, a football-based health education programme for children will be launched in Sri Lanka through its member association the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), in partnership with the ministries of Health, Sports and Education.
(From left) Manilal Fernando, FIFA Executive Committee Member; President FFSL Sarath Weerasekera; Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Prof. Jiri Dvorak the Chief Medical Officer of FIFA; Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena; Minister of Health Maitripala Sirisena and Dr. Gurucharan Singh, the Chairman of AFC Medical Committee after the formal discussion at the Sri Lanka Parliament Complex.
Professor Jiri Dvorak, the Chief Medical Officer of FIFA, and Dr Gurucharan Singh, the Chairman of the Asian Football Confederation Medical Committee together with FIFA Executive Committee Member Manilal Fernando and President of the FFSL, Sarath Weerasekera, met with the ministers of Sport Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Health, Maithripala Sirisena, and Education, Bandula Gunawardena, at the Parliament complex to discuss the implementation of the project. The three ministers extended their fullest cooperation to implement the project in Sri Lanka, which is the second in the Asian region. FFSL officials Chrysantha Perera and Upali Hewage too were present at the discussion.
The FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) has developed a highly effective education tool that improves the knowledge and changes the attitude of children towards the most important diseases in a playful manner
‘FIFA 11 for Health’ is a highly effective tool to instil basic health discipline in youngsters and build a healthier nation by preventing the most relevant diseases threatening the people’s wellbeing.
“The idea of ‘The 11 for Health’ is very easy to understand and its implementation does not need many resources apart from the schools’ playgrounds, balls and physical education teachers. This programme will facilitate the Government’s drive to eradicate many diseases and build a healthy nation. The first course for teachers of 11 to 18 schools will be conducted later this year by Dr Astrid Junge, head of research and Prof Colin Fuller, head of the programme implementation. The aim is to reach every school in the country by 2015/2016,” a FFSL media communiqué stated.
Eleven renowned players have committed themselves to adopt the individual messages. Barcelona defender Carles Puyol is the symbol for fighting the spread of infective diseases by promoting ‘Wash Your Hands’, and his club mate and four-time World Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi, contributes to preventing non-communicable diseases by advising children to ‘Eat a balanced diet’.
South African female footballer Portia Modise will advocate the need to ‘Drink Clean Water’, while France’s Thierry Henry will drive the message ‘Respect Girls and Women. Cameroon’s Samuel Eto will demonstrate how to ‘Shield against Malaria’ by using treated bed-nets while Ivorian icon Didier Drogba is for ‘Shots to save lives’ representing vaccination against disease.
“Football is an ideal platform to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent disease. Prevention is better than cure, no matter what disease, we try to prevent. We have gathered evidence that the ‘FIFA 11 for Health’ programme can contribute to the improvement of public health at low cost has been concluded by Prof Dvorak and it will surely contribute immensely to many a Sri Lankan youngster,” FFSL, media spokesman Rukmal Perera stated. – NA
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus