Chinese soprano Peng Liyuan (front right) poses with the certificate that proclaims her national ambassador for the prevention and control of tuberculosis with Vice-Minister of Health Wang Longde (front left) on Saturday, March 24, 2007. [Photo: China News Service]

Acclaimed Chinese soprano Peng Liyuan was appointed national ambassador for the control and prevention of tuberculosis on Saturday, World Tuberculosis Day.

Peng Liyuan accepted the title at a special event in Yiwu in eastern China's Zhejiang Province. The Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Health Bureau and Yiwu municipal government held the event to promote awareness of creating a better social environment for fighting the disease.

Zhejiang Province started offering tuberculosis sufferers free treatment in 2002. Around 180,000 people have since benefited from the program.

(CRI.cn March 26, 2007)