Bollywood actor Preity Zinta was Thursday appointed the goodwill ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV-AIDS (UNAIDS) in India, officials said.

Preity has accepted the appointment and will work to create awareness on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, with an emphasis on women, children and oppressed classes.

She will support the UNAIDS mission of empowering women and girls to protect themselves and live a full and productive life.

The actress will advocate reducing societal stigma and discrimination faced by the people living with HIV through her IPL team Kings XI Punjab.