Sir Roger Moore bonds with children in New Delhi

Neither shaken nor stirred, former James Bond Roger Moore in his avatar as UNICEF goodwill ambassador said no future could be built without investing in children - reports the Hindustan Times.

This meant giving them the best possible start in life, ensuring quality education, protecting children against HIV/AIDS and shielding them against violence, abuse and exploitation, he said expanding on the HT Leadership Summit’s theme of Building a Better Future.

Recalling his earlier visits to India — once for the filming of Sea Wolves with Gregory Peck and David Niven and, more famously, for the filming of Octopussy — Moore spoke about the ‘anticipated victory over iodine deficiency’ among children and young adults as one of the greatest public health triumphs in history.

“There can be no peace, no security, no sustainable development without putting children first,” he said.

And because children are children and do not have organised lobbies like other interest groups do, it was important for the civil society to stand up and end these “silent emergencies”, he added.

Iodine deficiency (IDD) during pregnancy or early childhood is the single largest cause of preventable mental retardation among children, Moore informed.

He extolled India with its high importance given to public health for successfully eradicating small pox and guinea worm.

“India can eliminate iodine deficiency disorder if all of you come together in partnership and decide to get the job done,” he said.

Thanks to `Kyvan` for the alert.

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