Aishwarya was approached by the UN ten years ago

Aishwarya said she was approached by the UN ten years ago to work with it on select causes but she decided to put it on hold as she was busy with the movie projects then. "I feel I can focus on the work of the UNAIDS today. As a mother, I have taken time out from my career for the last 10 months. I can now plan my time ahead," she said.

Aishwarya said she does not see her association with UNAIDS as a loss for the film industry and she will continue to be an actor and brand ambassador for products. "I am in the public eye, I am actor and brand ambassador for products- that world will continue as and how I plan it. I have not become a saint overnight and I have not renounced the world. I intend to keeping my public work going on and through that be able to redirect some of the energy into positive work." Aishwarya, who had aspired to be a doctor, said healthcare has always been extremely important to her and feels that a lot of work needs to be done in a country like India in the area of healthcare for women and their children. "Even though women in India are immensely empowered, they

are still socially shy and reluctant to go through basic medical check ups. I fear that women in India would still somewhere believe that if you are infected with the HIV virus, that is a death sentence," she said.

There is a need to educate women that despite being infected with HIV, they can have healthy children and there is medical help available for them. "Women tend to put themselves last, health comes last on their agenda but we need to tell them that if they are not healthy, they cannot take care of their family. "There is so much work to be done. Along with UNAIDS I am hoping that we can make the goal of having an entire generation born free of HIV, possible by 2015. It will be historic. It is not the only goal, there is work that needs

to be done for a long time to come," she said.

Bachchan said not many women in India, affected with HIV/AIDS come forward and seek help due to fear of social stigma, lack of awareness and education. She said there is need to spread awareness among women and children that there is hope for them and they should come forward to get adequate medical care for themselves.

"By coming on board, I hope to give further impetus to the work that UNAIDS has done and further contribute to the help spread the message," she said.

She said it is a "hugely positive step" that UNAIDS believes it is possible to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015.

"UNAIDS passion is infectious and I would like to contribute to it. This is shared responsibility and we can achieve it and make it possible," she said adding that it will be a 'blessing' to have a generation born free of HIV.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe welcomed Bachchan to the UNAIDS family.

"Bachchan is respected and admired by millions of people around the world. I am convinced that through her global outreach, Bachchan can help UNAIDS reach its goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015," Sidibe

said.

The main focus of Bachchan will be to advocate for the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children and keeping their mothers alive. This plan was launched 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 HIV infections among children. Twenty one of them are in sub-Saharan Africa, where the estimated number of children

newly infected with HIV fell by 25 per cent, from 3,60,000 in

2009 to 2,70,000 in 2011.

Progress in sub-Saharan Africa has been made possible through rapid improvement in access to services that prevent new infections in children. There was a dramatic increase in coverage of services in the 21 sub-Saharan African countries between 2009 and 2011: from 34 per cent to 61 per cent. HIV transmission rates from mother-to-child have also declined since 2010 with the introduction of more effective prophylaxis regimens.

"Through her work in raising awareness of the issues and advocating for increased access to services Mrs Rai Bachchan will be instrumental in helping to ensure that no more babies are born with HIV and that their mothers stay alive and healthy," said Sidibe. "We look forward to working with her to

reach our collective goals".

UNAIDS is the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS that leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.