Gwyneth Paltrow is lending hands to narrate a short film for UNICEF in a bid to save newborn babies from a life with AIDS.
- Feb 28, 2008
AceShowbiz - Is an actress with two children, Gwyneth Paltrow has her own way to show her concern about children who are born with the HIV virus. In a bid to save newborn babies from a life with AIDS, she lent hands, narrating a short film for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which is meant to help raising money to prevent children being born with the HIV virus.
The Oscar winner offered her voice to the new public service announcement (PSA), which was launched online Wednesday, February 27. Thanks to socialite pal Jemima Khan, best known as the ex-girlfriend of actor Hugh Grant, who convinced her to take part in the PSA.
"I asked Gwyneth if she would agree to do the voiceover for the film as she is a mother with a global profile who I know is a supporter of UNICEF," Khan told People.
Doing her part, Gwyneth narrated the four-minute dramatization of a poem by Simon Armitage that dealt with the unwanted "gift" of mothers passing on the virus to their unborn children, People reported.
"According to UNICEF, a baby is born with HIV almost every minute of every day somewhere in the world. The virus is passed from mother to child during the birth or pregnancy," Gwyneth said in a statement which was released during the film launch. "I have just found out that this can be prevented for less than $2 yet very few women in the poorer countries of the world can get the medicine they need to ensure their baby is born free from HIV. I hope that this new short film will raise awareness and funds about this issue and UNICEF will be able to reach every woman with the vital care and medicines they need."
As of Jemima, she's in hand is urging world leaders to honor their 2007 pledge for AIDS funding that would allow all pregnant women with HIV to receive treatment and care to ensure that their babies are born free from the virus.
