Shabana Azmi is ‘SAARC HIV/AIDS Goodwill Ambassador’

[Guest guest]

Shabana Azmi is `SAARC Goodwill Ambassador'

Saturday, June 14, 2008: Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Internationally acclaimed actress and an eminent social activist, Ms

Shabana Azmi has been appointed as the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for

HIV/AIDS Programme for SAARC countries in the region. SAARC member

nations (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan,

Maldives, Sri Lanka and India) who met in Kathmandu in the month of

April this year, selected Ms Shabana Azmi and the legendary cricketer

Mr Sanath Jayasuriya as SAARC Goodwill Ambassadors for HIV/AIDS from

a large number of nominations which had been received from the member

countries.

Ms. Shabana Azmi's name was recommended by National AIDS Control

Organisation (NACO) The conferment of the title and the launch of the

programme for SAARC Goodwill Ambassadors is likely to take place

during the 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 2nd

and 3rd August, 2008. The National AIDS Control Organisation, and

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have congratulated Ms Aazmi for

being selected as the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador and for agreeing to

contribute in the HIV/AIDS prevention programme.

As the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador, Ms Shabana Azmi will contribute

towards meeting the overall objective of the SAARC regional strategy

through, facilitating implementation of SAARC regional Strategy on

HIV/AIDS and its work Plan in all countries; addressing the issue of

stigma & discrimination and to create greater awareness through mass

media and public appearance in the region; mainstreaming HIV/AIDS to

form part of development agenda and advocate for affordable

treatment, care and support for PLHWA (people living with HIV/AIDS);

and facilitating fund raising from within and outside the region.

The SAARC Goodwill Ambassador(s) Programme was conceived with the

objective of facilitating the SAARC Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS and

its work plan. Engaging regionally well-known personalities would not

only provide necessary prominence to the issue but also ensure the

message being reached to the furthest corner of the region. As an

eminent social activist and a renowned film actor, Ms Azmi will

contribute significantly towards strengthening the prevention

programmes to gain momentum and visibility in the region.

`The SAARC Goodwill Ambassador(s)' is an honorary title conferred

upon the candidate whom the selection committee found as most

suitable for the title. Upon conferment of the title, SAARC

secretariat will provide necessary credentials to the candidate to

begin his/her role as the SAARC Goodwill Ambassador(s) on a voluntary

basis for a period of two years

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