Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been appointed a United Nations goodwill ambassador with a mission to help halt Hiv infections in children.

The actress, who became a first-time mother last November (11), will front a campaign aimed at eliminating new Hiv infections in her native India and 21 other at-risk countries.

Announcing the news in a statement, the Pink Panther 2 star says, "Spreading awareness on health issues, especially related to women and children, has always been a priority for me, and now, as a new mother, I can personally relate to this - the joys and concerns of every mother and the hopes that we have for our children."