World famous singer supports cause to raise funds for Romanian maternity hospitals

World famous singer supports cause to raise funds for Romanian maternity hospitals

Nana Mouskouri coming to the UNICEF Gala

World famous singer supports cause to raise funds for Romanian maternity hospitals

Bucharest, May 1, 2008 - Nana Mouskouri, one of the world’s best singing voices, is coming to Romania to help raise funds for Romanian maternity hospitals.

She will be taking part in a fund-raising telthons organised by UNICEF and the National Romanian Television on Saturday, May 10, 2008, starting at 20:00.

Nana Mouskouris is travelling to Bucharest especially for this event and will be present in the TVR studio in her role as International Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Her ability to speak (and sing) in English, French, German, Greek, Italian and Spanish has made Mouskouri an ideal spokesperson for UNICEF, and she has taken every opportunity to promote the rights of children, both in special field missions and while on concert tours. Throughout her time as a Goodwill Ambassador, Mouskouri has tirelessly promoted the fundraising and advocacy work of UNICEF. She appeals for support for UNICEF’s programmes for children both in concerts and in media interviews. She has also made generous financial contributions to projects in Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Viet Nam, Bulgaria and Russia.

The UNICEF Gala on May 10th will be hosted by Andreea Marin Banica, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Romania and will be attended by personalities from Romanian political, economic and artistic life, as well as by supporters and close collaborators of UNICEF. The funds will be used to offer a better chance to the babies who come into this world in the Romanian maternities, by transforming these into Baby-Friendly Hospitals.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was launched by UNICEF in 1991 to ensure that all maternities become centers of breastfeeding support. Breastfeeding brings advantages that cannot be reproduced by any other means of feeding.The benefits of mother’s milk are visible from the first moments after birth and last a lifetime. A breastfed child is healthier and has a better physical, psychic and intellectual development. The bonding created between mother and child during breastfeeding is extremely powerful and one of the best results of breastfeeding promotion is the dramatic decrease of child abandonment in maternity hospitals.

Mouskouri, who was born and raised in Greece, studied voice and piano at the Athens Conservatory before making her debut at a tavern in Plaka. Shortly afterwards, she won first prize in a Greek song festival, the first of numerous awards received during her distinguished career.

Mouskouri is the best-selling female artist of all time, having had more than 300 gold and platinum records. She has performed in the world's most prestigious concert halls, among them London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Olympia in Paris and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

About UNICEF Romania
UNICEF is on the ground in Romania, and over 150 other countries and territories, to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. In Romania, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, quality basic education and the protection of children from violence, neglect, exploitation and HIV/AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, please contact:
Codruta Hedesiu Coordonator Relatii Externe si Presa – UNICEF Romania
Tel: +4021 201 78 64; +40 749 194 238
E-mail: chedesiu@unicef.org