Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Co-ordinator of the UN Volunteers (UNV), said Monday that former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings was made a UN Eminent Person for Voluntarism on merit and his deep commitment to basic health issues.

"We also thought we needed a bold and candid speaker like Rawlings to tell people what behaviours they need to put away in order to avoid malaria and HIV-AIDS infection," the UN official said at a press conference in Accra.

"Moreover, Rawlings has in his years as head of State expressed very deep feelings against malaria in particular. He is also free from the work of governance and, therefore, available for the role given him," Capeling-Alakija added.

She explained that Rawlings' new role as an Eminent Person is not an employment by the UN, but an opportunity for him to continue his fight against killer diseases such as AIDS and malaria in a voluntary capacity, but on a wider scope.

"With his background as a former President and fighter against diseases in his country, we believe his contribution would intensify our efforts at combating the two killer diseases," she said.

Capeling-Alakija said in his new capacity, Rawlings would spearhead UNV activities against AIDS and malaria in Africa under a specific programme of action, adding that his responsibility would spread to other parts of the world under a UNAIDS programme.

She said the former Ghanaian leader started work this morning (Monday) and would continue till the end of the year when he would have the choice to renew his commitment or not.

"In his capacity, Rawlings would soon embark on a programme in which he would address international conferences and rural communities on how to effectively combat AIDS and malaria," the UN official added.