Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has been appointed as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador for South Asian region.
In a programme organised in Kathmandu the Regional Director of UNICEF South Asia, Karin Hulshof, announced the 49-year-old actor as the Goodwill Ambassador on October 9, after he visited Kapilvastu and Lumbini in west Nepal to observe a locally initiated nutrition programme by women health volunteers.
Aamir endorsed the offer, in which capacity he would support UNICEF’s work to promote the right of South Asian children to nutrition.
“I am delighted to become an ambassador of UNICEF in South Asia. I hope my messages on the importance of children’s nutrition will make parents, families at all levels support and adopt proven services and nutrition practices that will help children grow and develop to their full potential,” Aamir said after his endorsement.
“Child stunting remains one of the greatest development challenges to South Asia. Stunted children have stunted bodies, stunted brains, and stunted lives. Compared with children who are not stunted, stunted children have poorer cognitive development, often enrol later in school, complete fewer grades, and learn less – leading to reduced productivity and income-earning in adult life” he added.
The “Dhoom 3” star also met Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at his residence at Baluwatar and discussed about malnutrition, which is spread all over the world.
During his three-day Nepal visit, Aamir also took part in the launch of the 1,000 Golden Days national nutrition campaign.
