International football icon and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham met children receiving treatment for malnutrition at a UNICEF-supported hospital in Papua New Guinea.

“I feel very proud to be in Papua New Guinea to see for the first time how the money raised is helping to keep children healthy and safe, by providing live-saving therapeutic food for children suffering from malnutrition,” said Mr. Beckham in a press release issued by UNICEF.

Earlier this year Mr. Beckham launched his fundraising initiative 7: The David Beckham’ UNICEF Fund, making a personal commitment to use his voice, influence and connections to raise vital funds and rally for lasting change for children.

I believe that all children should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential and it’s incredible to see the lengths UNICEF will go to in order to protect the most vulnerable and hardest to reach children.

UNICEF said that the Fund helps in delivering life-changing programmes for children across every region of the world, including those affected by malnutrition in Papua New Guinea.

According to UNICEF, in Papua New Guinea, one child in 13 dies before they age of five, mainly due to malnutrition adding that national statistics indicate nearly half the children in the country also suffer from stunting.

“At the start of this year, I launched my own Fund with UNICEF because I wanted to help build a safer world for children,” said Mr. Beckham.

“I believe that all children should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential and it’s incredible to see the lengths UNICEF will go to in order to protect the most vulnerable and hardest to reach children,” he added.
Read more in un.org