Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was appointed the Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS
New York:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the newlyappointed UN Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, says she does notwant to be just a "poster girl" for the organisation but willundertake the ground work to help the agency achieve its goalof eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015.
In her new role, Aishwarya will help raise awareness onissues related to stopping new HIV infections in children andadvocate for increased access to anti-retroviral treatment.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe announcedAishwarya's appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador in a pressconference here.
Mrs Bachchan said it was an "honour and privilege" to beworking with the UN on eradicating AIDS/HIV.
"I will initially be like a student, holding the hand ofthe organisation which will lead me to the real picture on theground. I don't want to be just a poster girl, don't want tobe just part of a platform that will have my face and quotesand voice," the actress said.
She is planning to travel across India and othercountries, interact with people, appeal to governments andtalk with pharma companies to see what needs to be done.
Ash said she had been approached several years agoby the United Nations to be part of several programmes andcauses but due to her packed movie schedule, she could notmake the time to be associated with the initiatives.
"Now I am planning my time forward," she said adding thathaving been "wonderfully blessed" with a daughter, she can nowtake time off.
"It has been an absolute pleasure to take time off andtake care of my daughter," Mrs Bachchan told PTI.
She said she is at a "good" point in her life where sheis planning her career ahead, while also giving time to herfamily and daughter.
Lending her support to social causes like AIDS is notjust the cliched "Miss World" talk, Aishwarya said.
"This is a turning point in my life. I wanted to beassociated with the UN at a time when I could actuallycontribute to the work and the causes," she said, adding thathaving the blessing of celebrity will allow her to takeher message to a larger audience.
Bachchan said not many women in India, affected withHIV/AIDS come forward and seek help due to fear of socialstigma, lack of awareness and education.
She said there is need to spread awareness among womenand children that there is hope for them and they should comeforward to get adequate medical care for themselves.
"By coming on board, I hope to give further impetus tothe work that UNAIDS has done and further contribute to thehelp spread the message," she said.
She said it is a "hugely positive step" that UNAIDSbelieves it is possible to eliminate new HIV infections amongchildren by 2015.
"UNAIDS' passion is infectious and I would like tocontribute to it. This is shared responsibility and we canachieve it and make it possible," she said adding that it willbe a "blessing" to have a generation born free of HIV.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe welcomed Bachchanto the UNAIDS family.
"Bachchan is respected and admired by millions of peoplearound the world. I am convinced that through her globaloutreach, Bachchan can help UNAIDS reach its goal ofeliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015," Sidibesaid.
The main focus of Ash will be to advocate for theGlobal Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infectionsamong children and keeping their mothers alive. This plan waslaunched at the United Nations in June 2011.
The Global Plan focuses on 22 countries including India,which account for more than 90 per cent of all new HIVinfections among children. Twenty one of them are insub-Saharan Africa, where the estimated number of childrennewly infected with HIV fell by 25 per cent, from 360 000 in2009 to 270 000 in 2011.
Progress in sub-Saharan Africa has been made possiblethrough rapid improvement in access to services that preventnew infections in children. There was a dramatic increase incoverage of services in the 21 sub-Saharan African countriesbetween 2009 and 2011: from 34 per cent to 61 per cent.
HIV transmission rates from mother-to-child have alsodeclined since 2010 with the introduction of more effectiveprophylaxis regimens.
"Through her work in raising awareness of the issues andadvocating for increased access to services Mrs Rai Bachchanwill be instrumental in helping to ensure that no more babiesare born with HIV and that their mothers stay alive andhealthy," said Sidibe. "We look forward to working with her toreach our collective goals."
UNAIDS is the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDSthat leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared visionof zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zeroAIDS-related deaths.
In her new role, Aishwarya will help raise awareness onissues related to stopping new HIV infections in children andadvocate for increased access to anti-retroviral treatment.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe announcedAishwarya's appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador in a pressconference here.
Mrs Bachchan said it was an "honour and privilege" to beworking with the UN on eradicating AIDS/HIV.
"I will initially be like a student, holding the hand ofthe organisation which will lead me to the real picture on theground. I don't want to be just a poster girl, don't want tobe just part of a platform that will have my face and quotesand voice," the actress said.
She is planning to travel across India and othercountries, interact with people, appeal to governments andtalk with pharma companies to see what needs to be done.
Ash said she had been approached several years agoby the United Nations to be part of several programmes andcauses but due to her packed movie schedule, she could notmake the time to be associated with the initiatives.
"Now I am planning my time forward," she said adding thathaving been "wonderfully blessed" with a daughter, she can nowtake time off.
"It has been an absolute pleasure to take time off andtake care of my daughter," Mrs Bachchan told PTI.
She said she is at a "good" point in her life where sheis planning her career ahead, while also giving time to herfamily and daughter.
Lending her support to social causes like AIDS is notjust the cliched "Miss World" talk, Aishwarya said.
"This is a turning point in my life. I wanted to beassociated with the UN at a time when I could actuallycontribute to the work and the causes," she said, adding thathaving the blessing of celebrity will allow her to takeher message to a larger audience.
Bachchan said not many women in India, affected withHIV/AIDS come forward and seek help due to fear of socialstigma, lack of awareness and education.
She said there is need to spread awareness among womenand children that there is hope for them and they should comeforward to get adequate medical care for themselves.
"By coming on board, I hope to give further impetus tothe work that UNAIDS has done and further contribute to thehelp spread the message," she said.
She said it is a "hugely positive step" that UNAIDSbelieves it is possible to eliminate new HIV infections amongchildren by 2015.
"UNAIDS' passion is infectious and I would like tocontribute to it. This is shared responsibility and we canachieve it and make it possible," she said adding that it willbe a "blessing" to have a generation born free of HIV.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe welcomed Bachchanto the UNAIDS family.
"Bachchan is respected and admired by millions of peoplearound the world. I am convinced that through her globaloutreach, Bachchan can help UNAIDS reach its goal ofeliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015," Sidibesaid.
The main focus of Ash will be to advocate for theGlobal Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infectionsamong children and keeping their mothers alive. This plan waslaunched at the United Nations in June 2011.
The Global Plan focuses on 22 countries including India,which account for more than 90 per cent of all new HIVinfections among children. Twenty one of them are insub-Saharan Africa, where the estimated number of childrennewly infected with HIV fell by 25 per cent, from 360 000 in2009 to 270 000 in 2011.
Progress in sub-Saharan Africa has been made possiblethrough rapid improvement in access to services that preventnew infections in children. There was a dramatic increase incoverage of services in the 21 sub-Saharan African countriesbetween 2009 and 2011: from 34 per cent to 61 per cent.
HIV transmission rates from mother-to-child have alsodeclined since 2010 with the introduction of more effectiveprophylaxis regimens.
"Through her work in raising awareness of the issues andadvocating for increased access to services Mrs Rai Bachchanwill be instrumental in helping to ensure that no more babiesare born with HIV and that their mothers stay alive andhealthy," said Sidibe. "We look forward to working with her toreach our collective goals."
UNAIDS is the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDSthat leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared visionof zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zeroAIDS-related deaths.
