American Red Cross Measles Initiative to Vaccinate 14 Million Children in Kenya During One-week Campaign

American Red Cross
Friday, 17 May 2002

Actress Jane Seymour announces six Los Angeles schoolchildren selected to join her in largest measles campaign yet.

The American Red Cross and actress Jane Seymour today announced her involvement in the largest campaign to date, to vaccinate African children against measles.

Ms. Seymour, a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, will take part in a trip to Kenya, Africa, in June to vaccinate 14 million children.

Measles kills nearly 1 million children each year — 450,000 die in Africa alone. In Africa, measles kills more children than AIDS, tuberculosis or malnutrition. The disease can be prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than one dollar per child. Until measles is eliminated around the world, it remains a threat to the United States, and American children continue to be vaccinated.

"I would like to make a personal appeal to the mothers and fathers of America," said Ms. Seymour. "When you put your children to bed tonight—and sing to them—or read your favorite story and watch them drift into a peaceful sleep—think about this. Another 12,000 innocent children will have died today in Africa from a medical condition that should have and could have been prevented."

The vaccination campaign will take place June 17-23 throughout the entire country of Kenya, aiming to vaccinate all children under the age of 15. Children under 15 make up approximately 40 percent of Kenya's population. Ms. Seymour will visit the districts of Kibera, Machakos, Masai and Nairobi.

Jay Rodriguez, American Red Cross National Board of Governors member, was also at the news conference and noted that this campaign was part of a global effort. "The Red Cross is leading one of the most important public health initiatives in the world. Our partners in this initiative are the United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This effort is part of a five-year commitment to eliminate measles deaths in Africa, saving 1.2 million lives."

In addition, six middle school students from Richard Henry Dana Middle School in Hawthorne, California, near Los Angeles, will be joining Ms. Seymour and Red Cross health officials on the trip. The students were named at the news conference.

Speaking for her fellow students, Alysa Campos said, "My classmates and I are very excited about this trip. We are looking forward to a lot of hard work and the chance to make a difference in the world. We all feel that it's important to help kids in other parts of the world who don't have as much as we do."

The delegation will join the Kenya Red Cross Society and local schoolchildren for the vaccination of 100 percent of the country's children under the age of 15.

"The Measles Initiative will save over one million lives and the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles is delighted to be participating in this life-saving program. We encourage everyone, especially children, to play a role in supporting one of the most important health initiatives in the world today," said James Haigwood, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles.

The Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children, preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and countries and governments affected by measles. For more information, or to support the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org