Victoria – Seychelles is web hosting the first-ever FIFA Seaside Soccer World Cup to be held in Africa. The 2025 tournament, which runs from 1 – 11 May possibly seemingly perhaps seemingly, has potentially a long way-reaching impacts.
The prestigious tournament affords more than factual arresting sport. The Authorities of Seychelles, World Health Group (WHO) and FIFA are joining forces to leverage this odd world platform to promote more healthy lifestyles and kind out some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Constructing on the established and impactful collaboration between FIFA and WHO, this initiative will harness the tournament’s world attain to lift awareness spherical non-communicable diseases, the persistent possibility of communicable diseases, and the rising incidence of unhealthy daily life behaviors during Africa and past.
“That is more than a sporting tournament, it’s a movement for health,” said Dr Rex Mpazanje, WHO Advisor in Seychelles. “The Seaside Soccer World Cup affords a uncommon different to connect with contributors through the widespread language of sport. Together with FIFA and the Authorities of Seychelles, we are handing over a message: that health issues, and we all maintain a job to play in conserving it.”
The campaign comes at a principal time for the continent, where non-communicable diseases equivalent to diabetes, stroke, and cancers symbolize a predominant and rising health burden. In Seychelles, findings from the National Seek of Non-communicable Illnesses 2023, performed by the Ministry of Health, show conceal that simply about 1 in 5 adults primitive 35-74 resides with diabetes, whereas amongst those primitive 55-74, respectively 4 p.c and 6 p.c maintain self-reported having had a stroke or a historical past of most cancers. Underscoring the urgency, the initiative will highlight the life-altering advantages of no longer fresh physical job, amplifying the ongoing ‘Discontinue Obesity nationwide campaign’ launched by the President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan in October 2023.
To boot to promoting full of life lifestyles – a cornerstone in struggling with and managing continual diseases, the campaign will furthermore take care of other principal health areas, including promoting concussion awareness, making sure meals security for all, and appealing safer sexual practices.
“We are working with the Ministry of Health, communities and media to gather particular these health messages attain each and each nook of society, making sure that the affect resonates lengthy after the final match,” Dr Mpazanje emphasised.
Seychelles’ leadership on this initiative to promote health during the FIFA Seaside Soccer World Cup 2025 reflects its broader commitment to public health and world effectively-being. In October 2024, the country pledged US$ 50,000 to WHO’s Funding Round, a tangible expression of its dedication to supporting health methods both in the neighborhood and globally.
The FIFA Seaside Soccer World Cup 2025 is location to be a birthday party of sport, resilience and solidarity. And with the added vitality of a public health campaign, it guarantees to switch away a legacy of effectively-being during the place.
