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Beckham, who said she was inspired to help after a
"life-changing" visit to HIV clinics in South Africa, will focus
on working toward ensuring that all children are born free from
HIV and that children and women who are living with and affected
by HIV have access to medicines and care, UNAIDS said.
"It's taken me getting to 40 years old to realize I have a
responsibility as a woman, as a mother, I have a voice that
people will listen to," she told a news conference at the United
Nations on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
"I'm not going to sit here and pretend to know everything right
now, I don't, I'm learning," said Beckham, adding that she
planned to take field trips to learn more about the problem and
how she could help.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region hardest hit by HIV, with 24.7
million HIV-positive people in 2013. Women account for 58
percent of those with HIV in the region, which is also home to
85 percent of pregnant women with HIV, according to UNAIDS.
Last month Beckham auctioned off 600 pieces of clothing,
including several evening dresses, to raise money and awareness
for mothers living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
UNAIDS said that in 2013, one third of pregnant women living
with HIV did not have access to the life-saving medicines and
some 240,000 children became infected with HIV. But in the past
five years access to antiretroviral medicines for pregnant women
with HIV helped 900,000 children to be born without HIV.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Diane Craft)
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