Actress Suvari On Visit Here As Goodwill Ambassador

Award wining American actress Mena Suvari is visiting Ethiopia in a sign of supporting a US-based foundation forwhich she is goodwill ambassador.

The actress is actively supporting the African Medical and Research Foundation-AMREF's programs which focus on Africa's most critical health issues, particularly those issues that affect women and children.


"I am rally pleased to be associated with AMREF-which is the largest health development organization based in Africa and run by Africans," Ms. Suvari told a press conference at the Edna Mall late on Tuesday.

"I also promise to strengthen collaboration to help African lower status people" she added with tears on her eyes.

The renowned actress is visiting the country from 10 to 16 February, 2008, in a program AMREF organized in association with the Addis Ababa Millennium Secretarial office to relate her visit to Ethiopia to the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium.

On Monday, actress Suvari met and held discussion with Mayor Berhane Deressa At Edna Mall, a multi complex building which also houses a state-of the-art cinema hall the actress shared to the audience about her works and her personal life experience.

Ms. Suvari, who started her career as a child model, has become one of the most sought after young actresses in Hollywood.

Her extensive film credit include staring in the Academy Award wining American Beauty, American Pie, Spun, Factory Girl and, most recently, the critically acclaimed film stuck opposite Stephen Rea.

AMREF was founded in as the Flying Doctors of East Africa.

Today, AMREF is the largest health development organization based in Africa where 7% of staff is health to escape poverty infrastructure in Africa by closing the gap between the formal health system and communities who need health care services.

AM REF focus on the most critical health issues facing the continent: HIV/AIDS and TB, Malaria, clean water and basic sanitation, family and reproductive health, training health workers and clinical and surgical outreach.