On his maiden visit to Delhi,Spanish footballerFernando Llorente chose not to talk about football but the need to prevent the deaths of millions of children from ailments that are completely treatable and preventable.
In his new role as ambassador for NGO Save the Children, the 26-year-old striker for Bilbao Athletic and part of the 2010 World Cup winning Spanish team explained how moved he was to know that over 8 million children under the age of five die every year globally. “Of this, close to 2 million die in India alone. These are shocking statistics. What shocked me even more is that the majority of these deaths can be prevented,” he said.
The footballer said visiting slums in Okhla was an emotional experience for him. “I played football with young children in one of the slums. These children are like any other, full of enthusiasm and infectious joy. Given the right support, the kids here can grow up healthy,” he said.
Llorente promised to take back the message that children everywhere have the right to live healthy.
“It is our responsibility to make this possible. I will spread this message for Save the Children wherever I can,” the footballer said.
