New Delhi: The UnitedNations Programme onHIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) hasappointed Bollywood actressAishwarya Rai Bachchan as itsInternational GoodwillAmbassador.She will raise globalawareness on protecting childrenfrom HIV infection andincreasing access to antiretroviraltreatment.The appointment came aday before the start of theannual debate at the UNGeneral Assembly.Aishwarya has beeninvolved in humanitarianissues for many years and willnow have a special focus onHIV/AIDS, Xinhua reported.At a press conferenceMonday, UNAIDS ExecutiveDirector Michel Sidibe welcomedAishwarya to theUNAIDS family.
“Mrs. Rai Bachchan isrespected and admired by millionsof people around theworld,” Sidibe said.”I am convinced thatthrough her global outreach,Mrs. Rai Bachchan can helpUNAIDS reach its goal ofeliminating new HIV infectionsamong children by2015.”Speaking on this occasion,Aishwarya said: “I am honouredto accept this appointment.
“”Spreading awareness onhealth issues, especially relatedto women and children, hasalways been a priority for me,”she said.”And now, as a new mother,I can personally relate tothis — the joys and concernsof every mother and thehopes that we have for ourchildren.””I strongly believe thatevery baby should be bornfree from HIV.And I wish that everywoman living with HIV stayshealthy and has access totreatment.
I promise that withUNAIDS, I will do my utmostto make this happen,” sheadded.Aishwarya worked as amodel before starting her actingcareer, and won the MissWorld pageant in 1994.She has starred in films invarious languages includingHindi, English, Tamil, Telugu.
