A joint sponsorship?

A joint sponsorship?

I refer to the article in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 12, 2001
titled WHO names tennis star Angie as one of its health
champions.

I cannot understand the rationale and criteria behind the
World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to appoint Angelique
Widjaja to a six-month contract as one of the youth ambassadors
promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people. If I may quote
correctly, one of her duties is to encourage young people not to
start smoking.

Isn't WHO aware that more than half of Angelique Widjaja's
US$170,000 prize was contributed by Wismilak (a cigarette brand)?
To the best of my understanding, many international and local
community development institutions are reluctant to be sponsored
by a cigarette company.

I would like to appeal to WHO to be more precise and conduct a
"fit and proper test" before selecting their ambassador to
campaign healthier life objectives. I certainly believe that
Indonesia still has many other talented young individuals who are
really in line with your WHO global criteria.

For Wismilak, even though the anti-smoking campaign was
intensified, the company still generates a high volume of sales.

H. FATURACHMAN

Bogor, West Java