Wearing a red ribbon, French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy became a global AIDS ambassador, vowing to direct the media spotlight on her toward a “more important” cause. The wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy chose World AIDS Day to announce her new mission as ambassador for the global funds to fight diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Nine months after her marriage to Sarkozy, the super modelturned-singer said on Monday she wanted to use her celebrity status to draw attention to “the most vulnerable victims of AIDS”, women and children. “I benefit from your regular and constant attention,” Bruni-Sarkozy told journalists.
“And today, I finally have an opportunity to direct your attention to something more important and more serious.” Bruni will focus her work on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV— which is virtually wiped out in Europe through treatment but still affects 30% of newborns in Africa.
